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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 







Books By Mary F. Leonard 


The Cat and the Candle 

Frontispiece and illuminated covers. 

50 cts. Postpaid 

Half a Dozen Thinking Caps 

Frontispiece and illuminated covers. 

50 cts. Postpaid 

How the Two Ends Met 

Illustrated. Bound in ornamental cloth. 

60 cts. net. Postage 10 cts. 

It All Came True 

Illustrated. Bound in ornamental cloth. 

60 cts. net. Postage 10 cts. 

The Story of the Big Front Door 

Illustrated. Bound in ornamental cloth. 
^1.25 Postpaid 


THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO. 

NEW YOR-K 




MARY GRACE SAT WAITING IN THE CARRIAGE 



ITALL one TRUE 



THOnAS Y. CROWELL & CO. 
PUBLISHERS 


LIBPaav oONGRIiSS 
Two 0«nie9 Ror.oiverf 

JUL 23 1904 

S leht Entry , 

0 <~ XXc. No. 
7 z, sT ^ n 
COPY B ‘ 


.US' 




Copyright, 1904, 

By Thomas Y. Crowell & Company. 


Published September, igop 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Mary Grace 1 

II. Uncle Will 10 

III. How It Happened 24 

IV. Cousin Polly 34 

V. The Plot Thickens 50 

VI. Stars 62 

VII. Nellie 75 

VIIL Shopping 87 

IX. A Blank Page 96 

X. Preparations 105 

XL Aunt Clarice 114 

XIL Helping Santa Claus 128 

XIIL A Happy New Year 135 



IT ALL CAME TRUE 


CHAPTER I 

MARY GRACE 

Mary Grace sat waiting in the carriage 
wEile Miss Susanne bought something in 
the drug-store. It was a busy corner : 
trolley cars whizzed back and forth and 
crowds of people passed along the side- 
walk and in and out of the shops, yet Mary 
Grace felt lonely and the corners of her 
mouth had a pensive droop. 

“Did you ever get left?” called one 
small newsboy to another as he darted 
across the street and sold a paper to a tall 
man who had beckoned. Mary Grace re- 
peated the phrase to herself: “Did you 


2 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


ever get left ? ” She did not know what 
the boy meant by it but it seemed quite 
accurately to express her own condition. 

Next to the drug-store were some large 
show windows full of interesting things. 
Mary Grace had suggested getting out to 
look at them, but Miss Susanne had as- 
sured her there was nothing there she 
would care for, it was only the Ten Cent 
Store. 

Now why should Miss Susanne think 
because she herself did not care for the 
Ten Cent Store that Mary Grace would 
not ? What could be more splendid than 
the glittering array of tin pans on a crim-' 
son background ; the picture frames, rib- 
bons, artificial flowers, candies and many 
other things to eat, to wear, or to look at ? 
Grown people were all like this. “ Why, 
child, you don’t want that,” they would say, 
and all the time you did want it dreadfully. 

Sitting there in the carriage, her small 


MARY GRACE 


3 


hands folded on her lap, her delicate face 
with its dark eyes and its frame of red- 
brown hair, looking gravely out from be- 
neath the white plume that curled over the 
brim of her velvet hat, it occurred to her 
how nice it would be to go shopping all by 
herself. She would enter the door which 
a rather dirty boy was diligently swinging 
back and forth by means of a rope attached 
to the latch ; she would walk down the 
aisle with its delightful variety of wares on 
either hand, and from these she would 
make a selection, taking out her small 
purse with her monogram in gold upon it, 
when the time came to pay. The faint 
pink in Mary Grace’s cheeks deepened, her 
heart beat faster at the thought of such an 
adventure. Not that she would ever dare 
really. Somebody always held her hand 
when she walked along the street. As for 
shopping. Aunt Clarice said there was 
danger of catching something in the crowd. 


4 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


In imagination she had selected a chain 
of pearl beads such as she saw in the win- 
dow, and which to her eyes looked just 
like those her mother sometimes wore 
around her lovely throat, when with a 
tremendous pull the doorkeeper let out 
two little girls in gray coats and hats 
exactly alike. Their faces were round and 
rosy, one had curls, and the other braids tied 
up behind her ears with red bows, they car- 
ried packages and they were both laugh- 
ing. 

They stopped for a second at the window 
and the one with curls called out, “ O Nan- 
sie, look at this darling dog.” 

And Nansie exclaimed in her turn, “ O 
Cousin Polly, do look at this dog.” Then 
Mary Grace saw that a lady and a little 
boy had followed them out of the store. 

Cousin Polly, who was a comfortable 
looking person with a face almost as rosy 
as the children’s showed some pretty white 


MARY GRACE 


5 


teeth as she said, “ Truly beautiful ! Now, 
chickens, hurry, or we’ll be late.” 

As the little girl with the red bows 
turned, she looked straight at Mary Grace 
and then smiled, — yes, actually. Mary 
Grace longed to smile back, but it seemed 
as if she had forgotten how. She knew 
now that she had seen these children be- 
fore, playing in the yard of the house next 
door to her own home. 

In a minute more they were lost in the 
crowd, and again Mary Grace had the sen- 
sation so well described by the newsboy’s 
words. When Miss Susanne came out of 
the drug-store and the carriage rolled 
smoothly toward the park, over and over 
under her breath she repeated them : “Did 
you ever get left ? ” 

“ Did you ever get left, Miss Susanne ? ” 
What made her say it, she did not know. 

“ Why, Mary Grace, where did you hear 
such an expression ? It is slang. Never 


6 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


use it again.” Miss Susanne was shocked ; 
her voice was stern. 

Mary Grace had never heard of slang 
but she asked no questions ; retiring into 
her corner she began to tliink about those 
children who seemed to be^ having such a 
very good time. The lady they called 
Cousin Polly certainly looked like a person 
to have a good time with, — and where were 
they going? she wondered. She wished 
Miss Susanne would let her walk down 
town sometime and look in the shop 
windows, but she felt it was of no use to 
ask. Miss Susanne said she was a fortu- 
nate little girl to have a carriage to ride in 
and lovely clothes to wear, but when she 
said it she looked very grave, not at all as 
if she were glad. 

The thing Mary Grace liked best in the 
park was the artificial-lake where the geese 
enjoyed themselves and paddled about up- 
side down in a way that was immensely 


MARY GRACE 


1 


amusing, but this afternoon they seemed to 
have taken a vow not to go near the water. 
Watts the footman got down and tried to 
shoo them in, all to no purpose. With 
much flapping of wings and discordant 
squawking they persisted in running the 
wrong way. Mary Grace looked on with 
disappointed eyes. It really seemed as if 
she were left again. 

“ Why do you suppose they don’t want 
to swim ? ” she asked. 

“ Perhaps it is too chilly,” Miss Susanne 
replied, and then observing the wistfulness 
of the little face she added, “We will go 
home now and read something out of your 
new story book.” She put her arm around 
Mary Grace who nestled against her and 
felt a little comforted. 

Miss Susanne was very kind sometimes, 
Mary Grace was fond of her, only of late, 
— since so many changes had come, she too 
had been different. When you talked to 


8 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


her you suddenly found she wasn’t listen- 
ing, for she would say, ‘‘ yes ” when she 
couldn’t possibly have meant it, and she 
was always reading letters. 

“ Miss Susanne, I wish I could play with 
those little children next door. I saw 
them down town.” 

“ But, Mary Grace, your Auntie wouldn’t 
like it, and I feel a great responsibility 
now she is away. We know nothing about 
those children, very probably they haven’t 
nice manners,” was Miss Susanne’s answer. 

“ Dorothy Van Cleeve doesn’t have nice 
manners ; she hit Charlie with a stick and 
made him cry. I don’t like Dorothy,” de- 
clared Mary Grace. 

“ That is a very wrong way in which to 
speak of one of your little friends,” Miss 
Susanne said reprovingly, but she didn’t 
defend Dorothy’s manners. 

Mary Grace was puzzled. Dorothy cer- 
tainly hadn’t nice manners, yet she was 


MARY GRACE 


9 


allowed to play with Dorothy. On more 
than one occasion Aunt Clarice had com- 
plained of Mary Grace’s own manners, — 
when she hung her head and wouldn’t 
speak to people. Why did it make so 
much difference about those children next 
door ? 

It was of no use to continue the argu- 
ment however, for Miss Susanne had taken 
out another letter and was reading it. Mary 
Grace heard her say something under her 
breath, — it sounded like, “ what shall I do?” 

After this there was silence as the car- 
riage rolled homeward. Mary Grace sat 
up very straight looking out, and upon 
every child they passed her eyes rested 
wistfully. There were so many children 
and she hadn’t any to play with. 

Presently the carriage turned into a 
gravel road through a tall iron gateway 
guarded by two grim-looking stone lions. 
Mary Grace was at home. 


CHAPTER II 


UNCLE WILL 

They hailed the car at the corner and 
Cousin Polly shooed them on board as if 
they had been chickens really. Nansie 
dropped her package and when she stooped 
to pick it up, Nina, who was just behind 
and not looking where she was going, 
tumbled over her, and Little Boy Brown, 
who was in front, in an effort to be help- 
ful and get. Nansie’s package, bumped 
heads with her. Such a time as there was. 
Even the conductor who had a hard day 
and wasn’t feeling cheerful couldn’t help 
smiling as he tried to untangle them. 

“ Stop laughing at once or I’ll never take 

you down town again,” said Cousin Polly, 
10 


UNCLE WILL 


11 


as she piloted her charges into some seats. 
If you had not seen her face you might 
have thought she was scolding. 

The car was rather full so Cousin Polly 
and the little girls had to squeeze into one 
seat, while Little Boy Brown occupied an 
infinitesimal amount of space next a very 
stout man. 

After they were finally settled and had 
accumulated some breath, Nina asked, 
“ Cousin Polly, did you see the little girl 
in the carriage in front of the Ten Cent 
Store ? ” 

“ I don’t remember that I did.” 

‘‘ I saw her,” said Nansie. “ She had on 
a green velvet coat, and ” 

“Well — ” Nina interrupted, “she is 
that poor little rich girl who lives next 
door.” 

“The Princess?” asked Little Boy 
Brown, tumbling off his seat in the effort 
to join in the conversation. 


12 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


Explain yourselves,” said Cousin Polly, 
helping him up. Why do you call her 
poor if she is rich, and how comes a prin- 
cess to be living next door to us ? ” 

“Why, Cousin Polly, what do you 
think? — they never let her go anywhere 
or play with anybody but just only her 
governess,” cried Nina. 

“ And we pretend she is a princess and 
lives in a palace — don’t you know. Cousin 
Polly ? — with lions in front — and we play 
she can’t get out, and that some day we 
are going to rescue her. L. B. is going to 
help.” Nansie paused for breath. 

“ This is thrilling,” said Cousin Polly. 
“ Are you sure she wants to get out ? ” 

“ I’d like to ride in a carriage and wear 
a velvet coat,” remarked Nina, turning for 
a moment to the other side of the picture. 

“ The moral is that you can’t have every- 
thing in this life,” Cousin Polly said, 
laughing. 


UNCLE WILL 


13 


The car stopped to let some people off, 
and as it went on again a tall young man 
who had been watching Cousin Polly and 
the children ever since they got on, leaned 
forward across the aisle and held out his 
hand, “ Miss Clinton, I have been trying to 
make sure it was you,” he said. 

“ Will ! is it possible ? I am delighted. 
How you’ve — grownl^'' Cousin Polly ended 
with a laugh, then holding up her hand 
quickly she added, “ Now don’t tell me I 
have too, — I see it in your eyes.” 

“You haven’t changed a bit, not a bit,” 
he replied. 

“ I don’t like fibs either, however we’ll 
let it pass. I was thinking of you yester- 
day, Will, — wondering if you were here 
and if I should see you.” 

“ You certainly shall if you will give me 
the chance to show myself. Where are 
you staying ? ” 

“ I am visiting my cousin Mrs. Blanchard. 


14 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

At present she is away and I am taking 
care of the children. Nina and Nansie, 
this is an old friend of mine, Mr. Sar- 
gent. 

The little girls smiled and shook hands, 
then Nina said, “ This is our corner. Cousin 
Polly.’’ 

“We are going to the Flower Show,” 
Miss Clinton explained. “ Come to see me. 
Will, — 964 Bronson Street.” 

“You must be a neighbor of mine,” said 
Mr. Sargent as he helped Miss Clinton, the 
children and the parcels off the car. 
When he took his seat again he was still 
smiling. “ It brings back old times to see 
Miss Polly,” he thought. He recalled her 
laughing words, “ How you’ve grown.” 
There had seemed to be a question in the 
searching glance she gave him. Why did 
it make him a little uncomfortable? Was 
it that in the light of her pleasant eyes, that 
brought back his happy school days, he 


UNCLE WILL 


15 


felt conscious of not having grown in the 
way she expected. 

It was just for a moment, then he dis- 
missed the idea. Mr. William Sargent had 
formed the comfortable habit of consider- 
ing himself a very good sort of fellow. 
His family and friends encouraged him in it. 
His complacency was not easily upset. 
Still he was honestly glad to see Miss 
Polly. When he left the car he walked 
slowly up the street looking at the houses 
with new interest. The neighborhood had 
once been the center of fashion and wealth, 
but that was a good while ago. Now the 
most that remained of it was the old Sar- 
gent mansion with its pillared front, its 
sweeping driveway, its garden and hot- 
houses. 

“ 964 ” repeated Mr. Sargent, “ Why it is 
next door, how very odd ! ” 

964 was a plain, old-time, red brick 
house with outside shutters and white 


16 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


window frames. A not unattractive place 
Mr. Sargent now remarked. There was an 
air of smiling comfort about it. Plants 
bloomed in the windows from which the 
curtains were drawn back. The brick 
walk was newly reddened, the stone steps 
freshly whitened, the brass knocker on the 
front door far outshone the electric bell 
although its days of usefulness were 
passed. In the middle of the yard stood 
a tall sycamore, gaunt and picturesque, a 
sort of giant on guard. 

“I had no idea anyone in particular lived 
in this house,” he said to himself. Indeed 
he had supposed the Sargents the only de- 
sirable people left in this part of town. 
He himself was only a visitor in these days 
having set up bachelor quarters recently 
in one of the new apartment houses. 

Nothing could have been more stately 
than the Sargent house, but it struck him 
to-day as a little cheerless. Not a leaf 


UNCLE WILL 


17 


marred the smooth perfection of the lawn, 
costly curtains fell in perfect folds before 
each window ; the hall he entered was 
spacious and beautiful, but not exactly 
homelike. He had not thought of it before, 
but the sight of Miss Polly’s face had stirred 
recollections of a different sort of living. 

When he reached the staircase, which 
swept upward in a broad, beautiful curve, 
a small figure was coming down, her hand 
on the carved rail, right foot foremost on 
each polished step, her white dress in relief 
against the dark wood and the deep toned 
glass of the great window. At sight of 
Mr. Sargent a smile shone on the delicate 
face, but the child did not hurry, in the 
same deliberate manner she continued her 
descent, until at the fourth step from the 
bottom she was captured, swung upon a 
strong shoulder and carried into a big 
room furnished with books and a wood 
fire. 


2 


18 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“ I saw you from the window, Uncle 
Will, so I came to meet you,” said Mary 
Grace. 

“ You are the person I came to see. 
What have you been doing to-day ? ” 

“ I drove to the park with Miss Susanne, 
but the geese wouldn’t swim, so we came 
home.” 

“ What naughty geese,” said Uncle Will, 
hugging her close as she sat on his knee. 

“We went down town too, and I wanted 
to get out and look in the shop windows, 
but Miss Susanne said there wasn’t any- 
thing worth seeing, it was only the Ten 
Cent Store. But I did want to. I like 
the Ten Cent Store they have beautiful 
things. I saw some little girls coming out 
and they had bought something.” 

Uncle Will smiled at the earnest tone of 
Mary Grace. “ I’ll tell you,” he added, 
“ some day you and 1 will go down town. 
We won’t say a word to Miss Susanne who 


UNCLE WILL 


19 


wouldn’t understand our plebeian tastes, 
but just run away and have a good time 
shopping.” 

“ Uncle Will ! ” Mary Grace clasped 
her hands, ecstasy was on her face, words 
failed her. 

It was after the shopping expedition had 
been discussed in every detail that she pro- 
posed making wishes. 

“Well, you go first,” said Uncle Will. 

Mary Grace looked gravely into the fire 
considering. “ I wish I had a lot of chil- 
dren to play with, — but not Dorothy.” 

“ It does seem a little lonely for you, 
that’s a fact,” her uncle remarked. 

“ A lot of children,” she repeated. 
“There will be a great many in heaven, 
won’t there ? Isn’t ten thousand a great 
many ? ” 

“A goodly number I should say,” an- 
swered Uncle Will ; “But what made you 
think of heaven ? ” 


20 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“ Don’t you know the song Ailie sings ? 

“ ‘ Around the throne of God in heaven 
Ten thousand children stand, 

Children whose sins are all forgiven, 

A holy happy band. 

Singing : Glory, Glory, 

Glory be to God on high.’ 

She sang it through softly, keeping time 
with a small finger on the arm of his chair. 
“ I like it,” she said, — “ so many of them, 
all singing.” 

Again Uncle Will drew the little white 
morsel close to him. He could see himself, 
a small chap in kilts standing up in Sunday- 
school singing that same old song. “ It’s a 
shame,” he said under his breath. 

Then Mary Grace suddenly remembered 
a question she wanted to ask. “ Uncle 
Will, what is slang ? ” 

“ A mode of speech more expressive 
than elegant.” 

This definition did not help her very 
much. “ Is it wrong ? ” she asked. 


UNCLE WILL 


21 


“ Not exactly, but it is not considered 
the thing for young ladies.” 

Mary Grace lifted serious eyes to her 
uncle’s face, “ Uncle Will, did you ever get 
left?” 

Uncle Will laughed, — a hearty laugh 
that seemed to fill the room ; Mary Grace 
laughed too, although she had not sup- 
posed her question to be funny. 

“ Any number of times, my dear,” he 
told her. “ It is a very common experience.” 

“ I think I am left,” said Mary Grace. 
“ Father and mother are gone, and Aunt 
Clarice is gone, but Miss Susanne says I 
mustn’t say it.” 

‘‘ But you see I am left too, so it is not 
so bad as it might be, for you and I are 
left together. 

Mary Grace knelt on his knee and 
clasped her arms around his neck ; “ I love 
you. Uncle Will. I wish you would stay 
here all the time.” 


22 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“ Did you ever hear of larks, Mary 
Grace ? ” her uncle asked. 

“ The lark sings,” she repeated reminis- 
cently. 

“ There is another kind, and you and I 
are going to have some,” he said. 

Hours after Mary Grace had gone to 
sleep, her uncle in the midst of a gay sup- 
per party suddenly thought of the little 
white figure on his knee singing so earnest- 
ly that old Sunday-school song. 

“ Where are you, Mr. Sargent ? ” laugh- 
ingly inquired the young lady beside him, 
“ That far-away look in your eyes is not 
flattering.” 

For once he was not ready with a reply, 
and when he did speak it was seriously. 
“I have come into a new responsibility. 
Miss Minor,” he said. “ My brother and 
his wife, as you know, have gone abroad, 
and now my sister is called away from 
home, which leaves me in a manner guard- 


UNCLE WILL 


23 


ian of my little niece. It rather weighs 
upon me.” 

The young lady lifted her white shoul- 
ders. “You the guardian of youth, Mr. 
Sargent,” she exclaimed. “ How funny ! ” 

It was odd what had given him that 
feeling of discontent with things in gen- 
eral. As he laid his head on his pillow he 
found himself saying, “ I wish,” — and yet 
he did not know what he wished, except 
that it had something to do with the mem- 
ories aroused by his meeting with Miss 
Clinton. 


CHAPTER III 


HOW IT HAPPENED 

The most forceful person in Mary 
Grace’s world was Aunt Clarice; she it 
was who decided matters of diet and edu- 
cation. The loveliest person was Mary 
Grace’s young mother, who hadn’t any 
theories about bringing up children, but 
was charming to look at and nestle against. 
Although she hadn’t wings she seemed 
very like an angel, when in some floating, 
gauzy gown with shining jewels, she bent 
over her little daughter’s bed to kiss her 
good-night. 

Besides Aunt Clarice and mother there 
was father, a very great person indeed, who 

on rare occasions played with her, or held 
24 


HOW IT HAPPENED 25 

her on his knee. There were other times 
when he did not wish to be annoyed, and 
mother would say, “ Run away to Ailie, dear.” 

Father was often heard to remark, “ Bet- 
ter do as Clarice says, she knows best.” 
Aunt Clarice was the oldest member of the 
Sargent family and her sisters and brothers 
looked up to her. 

There had been some talk of sending 
Mary Grace to Kindergarten when she was 
between four and five. Dr. Briggs said 
she needed companionship, but Aunt Clar- 
ice who believed in Kindergarten for the 
children of the poor was opposed to it for 
her little niece. One couldn’t tell what 
undesirable children she might meet. The 
young lady who had opened a private 
Kindergarten near by, and who at Dr. 
Briggs’s suggestion, called to ask for Mary 
Grace, retired abashed and overwhelmed by 
Miss Sargent’s clearly stated objections. 

So Mary Grace really had no playmates 


26 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


at all, for the McArthurs and Van Cleeves, 
who satisfied Aunt Clarice in the matter of 
social standing, lived too far away for fre- 
quent visits, and these when they did occur 
were not always successful. 

“ I really think it is better for Mary 
Grace to play by herself until she is older,” 
her aunt remarked after an unhappy after- 
noon when the whole household had united 
in protecting her from the riotous Van 
Cleeve children. 

To be sure there was Ailie, her nurse, 
who had lived in the family since Uncle 
Will was a baby, who told fairy stories 
and sang to her, and did all she could to 
make up for the lack of child companion- 
ship. There were also Jerry and Jane, the 
stone lions whom Mary Grace had loved 
ever since she was a tiny tot just able to 
walk. She had named them herself, and 
many a long journey had she taken on 
their smooth backs. 


HOW IT HAPPENED 


27 


When she was six years old Miss Siisanne 
came. She was a pretty young woman, 
and carefully trained as a nursery gover- 
ness, but although she was kind and did 
her best she was not very fond of children 
and could not approach Ailie as a playmate. 

Uncle Will had not counted for much in 
Mary Grace’s world until a strange com- 
bination of circumstances left her almost 
deserted by her other friends. 

The beginning of this was on the day of 
the luncheon parties. Coming in from a 
walk with Miss Susanne, Mary Grace 
wished to stay and talk to Jerry and Jane, 
but as she had fallen on the gravel and 
soiled her white stockings Miss Susanne 
said she was not* fit to be seen, and that 
visitors would be arriving presently. There 
was nothing for it but to go back out 
of sight by the greenhouses and wander 
about pushing her doll carriage while Miss 
Susanne read a letter. 


28 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


It was now that Mary Grace made a dis- 
covery. Between the Sargent grounds and 
those adjoining there was a tall iron fence 
against which grew a hedge, and through 
a thin place she found she could peep into 
another yard where three children were 
playing. The very three she afterward 
saw coming out of the Ten Cent Store. 

They were so busy they did not notice 
her and as they chattered to each other she 
soon found out all about it. It was the 
birthday of one of the dolls who was going 
to have a party. The table was all set 
with a big dahlia for a centerpiece and a 
clover leaf at each plate. 

‘‘Dear me, how shall I ever get done 
in time ! I have the children to dress and 
there’s the cake to make,” sighed Nansie. 

“ I’ll help you make the cake, Mrs. 
Green,” said Nina, “ I’ll beat the eggs. 
Here comes the grocery boy.” 

This was the chubby boy they called L. B. 


HOW IT HAPPENED 29 

who carried a basket on his arm in which 
were a variety of things. Three sponge 
cakes, some animal crackers, a big apple 
and some pink peppermints. While Nina 
arranged these on the table, Nansie col- 
lected the material for her cake making. 
Mary Grace had never seen anything so 
interesting. 

The flour she used was nice brown earth, 
the eggs Nina beat so stiff and white, were 
soap suds. The grocery boy brought some 
morning glory seeds for raisins, and sand 
for sugar, and when it was all stirred^ up 
in a fluted pan, and gravel sifted over the 
top, and set in the sun to bake — really it 
made you hungry. Mary Grace was ab- 
sorbed. 

At the most thrilling moment, when the 
feast was about to begin. Miss Susan ne 
called. Mary Grace must have her own 
lunch and be dressed and sent down to see 
her mother’s guests. 


30 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


Tears and entreaties followed. She 
didn’t want any lunch, and she wouldn’t 
go down to see the ladies. Miss Susanne 
couldn’t understand what made her so 
naughty. 

Mary Grace still felt unhappy an hour 
later when Miss Susanne left her at the 
door of the dining-room with the admoni- 
tion, “Now don’t put your finger in your 
mouth.” 

She clutched her white frock nervously 
and looked down at her blue shoes. “ Go 
on,” said Miss Susanne, waiting, and she 
had to go. 

The room was a fairy-land of light and 
color, of flowers and gleaming silver and 
glass, of lovely ladies in beautiful gowns. 
Everybody seemed to be talking and no- 
body saw the little figure hesitating there 
by the door. Then Mary Grace stole 
timidly to the side of the pretty young 
hostess, who put her arm around her. 


HOW IT HAPPENED 


31 


drawing her close. Thus protected, Mary 
Grace looked around the glittering circle. 
Of them all none was so lovely as her 
golden-haired mother. 

Then suddenly she became the center of 
attention, and that tiresome finger would 
travel toward her mouth, and the brown 
eyes seek the tips of the blue shoes. 

“ Mary Grace, I am ashamed of you, — 
speak to Mrs. Graves. Yes, this is my 
baby. Isn’t she growing a great girl ? ” 

Mary Grace had to tell how old she was, 
and whom she loved best, and if she went 
to dancing school ; and was in turn told 
what a darling she was, what perfect hair 
and complexion she had, all of which she 
knew by heart. 

“Are you going to take her with you, 
Mrs. Sargent ? ” some one asked. 

Her mother’s clasp tightened as she 
replied, “No, the journey would be too 
much for her this time of year, Mr. Sargent 


32 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

thinks. Aunt Clarice will take care of 
her. Her lips touched her little girl’s 
forehead. 

Mary Grace forgot the tiresome ladies 
and her own shyness. “ Mother, are you 
going away ? And won’t you take me ? ” 

“ Never mind now, darling. I’ll tell you 
about it after a while.” 

Then Mary Grace knew it was true, and 
cast herself with a wail of anguish upon 
her mother. It was dreadful for such a 
big girl. She must have forgotten she was 
a Sargent, — so Aunt Clarice said. No 
doubt she had. There were times when 
Mary Grace almost wished she wasn’t a 
Sargent. At any rate Watts had to carry 
her from the room in disgrace. 

This was the beginning but by no means 
the end of her being left. The very week 
after Mr. and Mrs. Sargent’s departure 
Aunt Clarice was called away by the seri- 
ous illness of her sister. She couldn’t 


HOW IT HAPPENED 


33 


refuse to go and yet she couldn’t bear to 
leave Mary Grace. It was then Uncle 
Will came to the fore. He said Ailie and 
Miss Susanne could take care of her and 
he would come to see her every day. 
Aunt Clarice did not seem much relieved 
by his promise, still she had to go, and in 
the week which had passed since then 
Mary Grace and her uncle had become very 
intimate. 

Undoubtedly she was taken good care 
of. If it had not been for the loneliness 
of it, and Miss Susanne’s growing absent- 
mindedness things would have gone very 
well. As it was. Uncle Will’s daily visit 
became the brightest spot in Mary Grace’s 
existence. 

3 


CHAPTER IV 


COUSHS- POLLY 

‘‘ Her name is Mary Grace, Cousin 
Polly,” Nina announced from the window 
where she and Nansie were playing domi- 
noes. “ Anne knows her nurse.” 

“ Is she related to Tommy ? ” Miss 
Clinton asked going on with her writing. 

‘‘Tommy? — Tommy who?” Nina re- 
peated. 

Nansie laughed ; “ I guess she isn’t, for 
her other name is Sargent. 

“Then perhaps she is related to my 
friend.” 

“ Do you mean the man you spoke to on 
the car ? I saw him pass here,” said 
Nansie. 


34 


COUSIN POLLY 


35 


Cousin Polly folded her letter and put 
it in the envelope. “ He said he was com- 
ing to see me ; if he does we will ask about 
Mary Grace. It is pleasant to know one’s 
neighbors.” 

It was only two months since the 
Blanchards had moved into town from 
their country home. There had been diffi- 
culty in finding a house to suit them, for 
the pretty modern ones up town would not 
accommodate the old-fashioned furniture 
Mrs. Blanchard was so proud to own, and 
the narrow unfenced lots seemed to her an- 
other serious objection. “ I should never 
know where the children were,” she said, 
“ I want a yard with a fence.” 

By accident they heard of the Bronson 
Street house just left vacant by the death 
of its owner, and although it was rather far 
down town, in other respects it would suit 
very well for the present, until they could 
look about for a lot and build. 


36 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


It had been an understood thing that as 
soon as they were settled Cousin Polly was 
to come and make them a long visit. The 
children had not seen her since they were 
babies but they knew a great deal about 
her. 

“We’ll do this when Polly comes,” they 
heard their mother and father say, or, 
“ We’ll ask Polly about it.” They had 
been told to keep their new dresses nice till 
Cousin Polly came, and when they were 
cross, were reminded that Cousin Polly 
didn’t like naughty children. Altogether 
her visit was looked forward to as a most 
important event. 

Before they were fairly settled in their 
new home baby Charles was taken ill, and 
when Miss Clinton did come she at once 
bundled the baby and his worn out mother 
off with Mr. Blanchard for a change and 
rest, while she took charge of the house 
and the little girls, Nina and Nannette. 


COUSIN POLLY 


37 


It didn’t take the children any time at 
all to find out that they liked Cousin Polly. 
She was so full of energy and happiness 
she had much the effect of a breezy, bright 
day upon your spirits. 

They discovered before long, however, 
that if Cousin Polly was cheerful herself 
she also expected other people to be the 
same. She said if you wanted to be cross 
and fret, very well, but you must do it 
alone. And who on earth ever wanted to 
be cross alone ? 

One morning Nina came down with a 
frown on her face, and only half responded 
to Cousin Polly’s good-morning. Her 
breakfast did not please her. Anne put 
too much cream on her oatmeal and her 
biscuit wasn’t hot. 

At last Cousin Polly spoke ; “ Anne is 
going to take your plate to the pantry, 
Nina. You can finish your breakfast 
there.” 


38 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“No, slie shan’t,” Nina cried, holding 
fast to her plate. “ I won’t eat in the 
pantry.” 

Before she knew it she was being led 
from the room by a firm hand, while Anne 
followed with the plate, and Nansie looked 
on with big eyes. When Nina was 
naughty at breakfast mamma always 
thought she wasn’t well. 

When Nina threw herself on the floor 
and said she wouldn’t eat anything. 
Cousin Polly said she need not if she 
did not wish to, but that she and Nansie 
wanted to enjoy their breakfast ; then she 
went back to the dining-room. Nina 
began to feel ill. She wished mamma 
was at home, she wouldn’t let her go 
without any breakfast. Cousin Polly was 
mean. 

But she couldn’t make herself believe a 
story. Cousin Polly w^asn’t mean, and — 
well in about five minutes a mournful voice 


COUSIN POLLY 


39 


asked at the dining-room door, “ May I 
come in now ? ” 

“ The price of admission is one smile,” 
Miss Clinton answered, and Nina paid it in 
spite of herself, and ran to Cousin Polly, 
who hugged her, and the storm was over. 

There was one particularly delightful 
thing about Cousin Polly so the children 
thought. She wrote stories — not only 
wrote them but told them, and made funny 
little rhymes to order while you waited. 
And she promised when she wrote another 
book it should have “ To Nina and Nansie ” 
on one of the front leaves so that every 
one would know it was their very own. 
They wished she would begin it at once 
they were so anxious to see it. 

They had been talking about it over the 
dominoes, and now Nansie came and stood 
by Cousin Polly while she sealed and 
stamped her letter. “ I wish we could be 
in a story,” she said. 


40 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“ Well, why not? Perhaps you are and 
don’t know it,” Miss Clinton said. “ If I 
were going to write it down it would be 
like this : ” Nannette and Nina were play- 
ing dominoes in the window. These little 
girls were sisters, Nina was eight and 
Nansie seven years old, and they both had 
rosy cheeks and bright eyes, and one had 
curly hair and the other hadn’t. In the 
same room their Cousin Polly was trying 
to write a letter, — not an easy matter, be- 
cause the children wanted to talk about 
the little girl who lived next door. But 
after a while the letter was finished and 
their Cousin Polly said, ‘Let’s put on our 
things and walk around the square and 
mail it, and on the ^vay we’ll stop and ask 
for the sick mother of Little Boy Brown.’ ” 
“ Why, Cousin Polly, it is exactly like a 
real story ! Do go on,” the children cried, 
dancing about like jumping-jacks in their 
delight. 


COUSIN POLLY 


41 


Miss Clinton laughed: “We have 
brought it up to date and shall have to 
wait a few minutes for something else to 
happen. Shall we mail the letter ? ” 

Nina and Nansie ran off to get their hats 
and coats, charmed at the thought of being 
in a stor}^ When they started out, one on 
each side of Cousin Polly, they held their 
heads high and walked with dignity. They 
w^-ere not just ordinary little girls any 
longer. 

It was a tall three-story house across the 
street at which they stopped to ask for 
Little Boy Brown’s mother. Cousin Polly 
had discovered — it was a way she had — 
that Mrs. Brown was related to somebody 
she knew very well at home, besides she 
said, such a chubby good-tempered little 
boy was a recommendation to anybody. 

Mrs. Brown had been ill some time, 
almost ever since the Blanchards had been 
in the neighborhood, and so L. B. had 


42 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


fallen into the habit of wandering about 
the block in search for amusement. He 
had made friends with Nina and Nansie 
one day when their kitten ran away, and 
he caught it and brought it back. He was 
such a well-mannered little fellow that 
Mrs. Blanchard made no objection to his 
playing with the children. Everybody 
called him L. B., and when Cousin Polly 
asked his name no one knew it. She de- 
cided at once that L. B. must stand for 
Little Boy. Little Boy Blue, why not 
Little Boy Brown ? When it was discov- 
ered that his real name was Lawrence 
Barret, Cousin Polly said it was too late, 
she should always call him Little Boy. 

The Browns lived in a boarding-house, 
and not one of the nicest sort. The front 
door was dingy and the steps far from 
clean ; even the little girls felt the cheer- 
lessness of the parlor into which they were 
shown. Miss Clinton sent up her card and 


COUSIN POLLY 43 

Mr. Brown and L. B. came down to see 
them. 

“ Hello ! ” said Little Boy Brown to 
Nina and Nansie, “ My mamma is going to 
the Infernary r 

“ I heard Mrs. Brown was worse, and on 
the strength of being a friend of some of 
her friends, and because we are so fond of 
your small boy, I have come to ask if there 
isn’t something I can do,” Cousin Polly 
said to Mr. Brown, who though he was tall 
and thin and anxious looking, yet bore an 
amusing likeness to his son. 

“You are very kind,” he began. 

“ I’d like to be,” she interrupted, “ if you 
will let me.” 

As she stood there so strong and whole- 
some, with a pretty fresh color in her face, 
she seemed the very picture of comfort. 
It was not possible to doubt her sincerity. 

“Thank you,” Mr. Brown faltered. “My 
wife is going to the Infirmary this after- 


44 : IT ALL CAME TRUE 

noon. I hope — I mean I don’t think there 
is anything. She is anxious about Law- 
rence, but I tell her he will get on very 
well.” 

‘‘ Then let him stay with us. I am tak- 
ing care of these little girls while their 
mother is away, and I’ll be glad to have 
him. You would like to come and stay 
with us, wouldn’t you. Little Boy Brown ? ” 

There was no doubt about that part of it. 

Father, let me ! ” L. B. begged. 

“You are most kind, but it would be 
asking too much,” said Mr. Brown. 

“ I am doing the asking,” replied Cousin 
Polly, “so let’s consider it settled. Tell 
his mother I’ll take good care of him.” 

Mr. Brown surrendered to Cousin Polly’s 
friendliness. “ If he may stay with you 
during the day it will be a great weight off 
my mind. At night of course I can take 
care of him.” 

“ Goody, I’m glad,” Little Boy Brown 


COUSIN POLLY 


45 


exclaimed, holding Miss Clinton’s hand and 
looking up into her face with honest ad- 
miration. 

It takes a long time to get around the 
square when you make a number of stops. 
There were some things to be ordered at 
the grocery store in the next street, and the 
gold-fish in the drug-store window were 
there of course to be looked at. Cousin 
Polly said she was afraid her letter would 
not get off that evening. 

The mail-box when at last they reached 
it, had been freshly painted in silver paint, 
and there was a new card with the hours 
for collection on it which Nansie insisted 
on having read to her, so she might know 
when the letter would be taken up. 

They were just turning away from the 
mail-box when they saw coming along the 
street a tall man and a very small girl. It 
took only one second to decide that they 
were Mr. Sargent and Mary Grace. 


46 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


Mary Grace was talking earnestly to her 
uncle and he was looking down into her 
upturned face, so they neither of them saw 
Cousin Polly and Mna and Nansie till they 
were almost upon them. 

“ I am glad to meet my neighbors,” Miss 
Clinton said. “I have just discovered 
that you live next door.” 

Mr. Sargent said he too had made the 
discovery only yesterday, and that he had 
not dreamed he was so fortunate. 

“ And is this little Miss Mouse ? ” Miss 
Clinton asked, smiling down on Mary 
Grace who moved closer to her uncle and 
looked at her toes. 

“ Can’t you speak to Miss Clinton ? ” 
Uncle Will asked. “Here are the very 
little girls you were telling me about.” 

Nina and Nansie were in a flutter of de- 
light at meeting Mary Grace. 

“Mayn’t she come and walk with us, 
Mr. Sargent ? ” Nansie asked. 


COUSIN POLLY 


47 


Yes, Mary Grace, come and walk with 
us,” Nina urged. 

Mary Grace seemed about to refuse, but 
Uncle Will put her hand in Nansie’s and 
Nina took possession of the other one, and 
there she was walking along the street be- 
tween them while Miss Clinton and Mr. 
Sargent followed. 

Mary Grace looked straight ahead, shyly, 
Nina and Nansie meantime bending eyes 
of ardent admiration upon her. 

“ Do you know you live next door to 
us ? ” Nansie asked. 

Mary Grace nodded. 

“ And our Cousin Polly used to know 
your uncle a long time ago. Won’t you 
ask your mother to let you come to see 
us ? ” said Nina. 

“ She has gone away,” Mary Grace an- 
swered, then plucking up courage she 
added, “ I’ll ask Uncle Will.” 

Behind them Cousin Polly was saying. 


48 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


How it brings back old times to see you, 
Will.” Though she smiled there was sad- 
^ ness underneath. 

I often think of those happy holidays 
at your house, Miss Polly. How good you 
were to us, and how you used to scold 
us.” 

“ You were dear boys. I had high 
hopes of you both in those days.” 

“ I have never ceased to miss Arthur, 
Miss Polly,” Mr. Sargent said earnestly. 

‘‘ Nor have I,” something glistened in 
the eyes she lifted to his for a moment. 

“ Somehow I lost heart and interest in 
things after he died,” Mr. Sargent added. 

“ I don’t like to have you say that. Will. 
It seems not fair to Arthur.” 

“ Cousin Polly, can’t Mary Grace be in 
the story ? ” Nina turned round to ask. 

“Why certainly. We’ll say: ‘And 
while they were out walking they met 
Mary wrace.’ ” 



MARY GRACE LOOKED STRAIGHT AHEAD, SHYLY 




COUSIN POLLY 


49 


“I should like to know if you didn’t 
meet me too ? ” Mr. Sargent said. 

“ I am not sure that you deserve to be 
in our story,” Cousin Polly answered se- 
verely. 

4 


CHAPTER V 


THE PLOT THICKENS 

Miss Susanne was firm. Miss Sargent 
had cautioned her not to let Mary Grace 
look through the fence at the children next 
door. She would hold her responsible if 
the child made undesirable acquaintances. 

Uncle Will was highly incensed. Cir- 
cumstances altered cases he contended. 
His sister did not know the Blanchards, 
he did, — or at least he knew Miss Polly. 
These were nice little children, and Mary 
Grace needed companionship. He would 
write to his sister and explain. 

Miss Susanne assented meekly. In the 
meantime she would carry out Miss Sar- 
gent’s commands. 

Upon reflection Mr. Sargent decided that 


THE PLOT THICKENS 


51 


open war with Mary Grace’s governess was 
not desirable. It would not be long now 
till his sister’s return. 

It really seemed as if some ironical fate 
decreed that since Mr. Sargent wished to 
manage things he should have his fill of 
responsibility, for now something else hap- 
pened. Miss Susanne was called home, 
and Aunt Clarice broke her ankle and had 
to stay where she was. 

That was a day of excitement. Mary 
Grace was all but forgotten, while Ailie 
and one of the maids helped Miss Susanne 
pack her trunk. It was very strange to see 
Miss Susanne cry. Mary Grace hopped 
about on one foot enjoying the novelty of 
the occasion until Ailie asked her if she 
wasn’t sorry for Miss Susanne. This em- 
barrassed her a little and she took Wilhel- 
mina, her doll who was named for the 
Queen of Holland, and went down-stairs. 

In the hall Watts was polishing the big 


52 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


mirror. Mary Grace seated herself on the 
bottom step to look on. 

“ W atts, did you know that Miss Susanne 
was going away ? ” she asked. 

“Looks like everybody’s going away,” 
Watts said. 

“ Everybody but me,” this with a deep 
sigh. 

“ We’d have to close up if 3^0 u was to 
go,” Watts remarked. 

“ Yes, I think I’ll stay and keep the 
house open,” Mary Grace spoke with a 
languid importance so like Miss Clarice, 
Watts stifled a laugh. 

“ Miss Susanne has to go ’cause some- 
body’s dead, and maybe she can’t come 
back. She said she didn’t want to leave 
me, but Uncle Will said ‘’course she must 
go,’ and, he’s coming to stay here all the 
time and take care of me.” 

Down the stairs hurried Miss Susanne 
and fell upon Mary Grace with tears and 


THE PLOT THICKENS 53 

kisses. Ailie followed with her bag. 
Mary Grace stood watching till the carriage 
disappeared, then she turned to find her 
uncle behind her. 

‘‘ Well, Mary Grace, the plot thickens,” he 
said. “We continue to be left.” 

Mary Grace seized his hand. “ Are you 
going to eat supper with me. Uncle Will ? ” 
she asked. 

“ Sure and I wonder what will be hap- 
pening next ? ” Ailie said. 

“ I trust you’ll not break your neck or 
anything, Ailie,” Uncle Will replied, then 
he and Mary Grace went to the library to 
write to Aunt Clarice. 

It was not easy to decide w^hat to say. 
Poor Miss Sargent was so distressed at hav- 
ing to be away perhaps six weeks longer, it 
seemed cruel to tell her about Miss Susanne. 
Her brother decided not to mention it this 
time, but to break it to her by degrees. 

Mary Grace also wrote a letter, that is 


54 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


slie printed it and signed her name in 
writing. All she said was : “ Dear Auntie, 
I am sorry you hurt your foot. Uncle 
Will is good to me. I love you.” But 
many a long letter fails to say as much. 

While they were busy over their letters, 
and Wilhelmina, seated in one corner of the 
divan studied the portrait of Mary Grace’s 
grandfather on the opposite wall, a little 
old lady was ushered in. Such a quaint 
old lady, with white curls on either side of 
her face, which was framed by a close- 
fitting black bonnet. 

Mary Grace surveyed her with wide open 
eyes, as her uncle rose, exclaiming “ Aunt 
Margaret ! I don’t know when I have seen 
you ! ” 

“ It has been a long time, William,” the 
old lady said, “ and as I like occasionally to 
hear something of my sister’s children I 
came up town to-day on purpose. They 
•tell me Clarice is away.” 


THE PLOT THICKENS 


55 


“ Yes, everybody is away but Mary 
Grace and me — Mary Grace, come and 
speak to Aunt Margaret. This is Mar- 
shall’s little girl.” 

Mary Grace stood beside Aunt Margaret 
her eyes glued to the white curls. The 
old lady kissed her cheek and said she 
was growing to look like her grand- 
mother. Then she asked her how old she 
was. 

Mary Grace said she was -seven, and then, 
her gaze still on the curls she added, “Do 
you put them up on kids ? ” 

“ What does she mean ? ” asked Aunt 
Margaret, but Uncle Will had no idea, and 
Mary Grace taking refuge within his arm 
was too abashed to explain. She felt an 
interest in this new aunt however, and 
listened to the conversation. 

“ Uo, I had not heard it,” Aunt Margaret 
said. “ I am sorry about Clarice. I sel- 
dom see any of you, William, in these days, 


56 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


1 am not fashionable enough. I am just 
an old-time Methodist.” 

“ You know my sister is a very busy 
woman,” Uncle Will began. 

“ You need not apologize, William, I am 
not hurt. It is natural enough. Of course 
I wish it was different, but I realize I am 
only a plain old woman.” 

Uncle Will leaned forward with his arm 
on his knee, and a very winning look in his 
eyes. “ Aunt Margaret,” he said, “ I speak 
only for myself. I have allowed some things 
which I really value deeply to be crowded 
out of my life by matters of less account. 
I used to love to go to your house. I have 
not forgotten the fruit-cake you used to 
give me. I should still like to go, and I 
mean to, very soon.” 

“ There will be some fruit-cake for you 
if you still like it. Don’t say any more, 
William. You were a nice boy, and I am 
not going to quarrel with you.” 


THE PLOT THICKENS 


67 


“ They talked on and forgot Mary Grace 
who joined Wilhelmina on the divan and 
showed her a picture-book. The next 
thing she knew Uncle Will was saying, 
“It is a great deal to ask, but it will be a 
tremendous relief if you will,” then he 
added, “Mary Grace, Aunt Margaret is 
going to stay with us for a while. 

“ Mary Grace and I have had so many 
blows lately we need a little diversion,” 
Mr. Sargent remarked to Miss Clinton that 
night, “ so we want you and the little girls 
to come to supper to-morrow evening.” 

“ Ihn sure we’ll be delighted. May we 
bring our guest ? Little Boy Brown is 
staying with us.” 

“Certainly, the more the merrier. Come 
early. We dine — or take supper I mean 
— at half-past six.” 

When he told Mary Grace about it, he 
said, “Now you know neither mother or 
auntie is here to act as hostess, so it rests 


58 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


with you to make our guests have a 
pleasant time.” 

Mary Grace thought about it seriously. 
The idea of being hostess pleased her. She 
did not need to be told that a hostess does 
not put her linger in her mouth or look at 
her toes. So it happened when Miss Clinton 
and the children entered the stately draw- 
ing-room they found a charming old lady 
with silver curls and a white kerchief over 
her black silk gown, and a dignified little 
maiden in white with a big blue bow on 
her hair who came to meet them, and said 
good-evening and shook hands in a manner 
worthy of any number of Sargents. 

It was Cousin Polly who didn’t behave 
properly, but in the midst of it, exclaimed, 
“ Dear little Miss Mouse,” and picking her 
up sat down in the nearest chair and 
hugged her. 

Mary Grace did not mind very much. 
Cousin Polly’s lap was so comfortable, and 


THE PLOT THICKENS 


59 


Nina and Nansie and Little Boy Brown 
came and stood as close as possible. “ A 
little quartette,” Miss Polly called them. 

Presently Mary Grace’s lips puckered 
into a demure smile, she pointed a finger 
at L. B. “ He was the grocery man,” she 
said. 

Why yes, he was, how did you know ? ” 
Nina asked. 

From this moment sociability reigned. 
While Miss Clinton talked to Aunt Mar- 
garet and Uncle Will, Mary Grace took 
the children up-stairs to see her play-house. 
On the way she told them about peeping 
through the fence at the party, and Nina 
and Nansie told her how they pretended 
she was a princess, and how they saw her 
one day sitting in the carriage in front of 
the Ten Cent Store. 

The play-house was very much admired, 
but Little Boy Brown thought the tobog- 
gan slide was best. There was so much to 


60 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


see Ailie could hardly get them down to 
supper. 

Mary Grace was so happy she could not 
eat. “My wish is coming true, Uncle 
Will,” she announced looking around the 
table. “ I have a lot of children to play 
with.” 

“ Not quite ten thousand, that was the 
number you mentioned, I think,” said her 
uncle. 

“That is heaven,” Mary Grace replied 
gravely, making them laugh. 

“I am fond of children,” said Cousin 
Polly, “but ten thousand is not just my 
idea of heaven.” 

“ Nina and Nansie and L. B. are enough 
for now,” said Mary Grace. 

Certainly they behaved so well they 
were not any too many. Mr. Sargent said 
he had not had such a good time in years. 
Aunt Margaret said so too, shaking her 
curls approvingly. It was the kind of a 


THE PLOT THICKENS 61 

tea-party a plain Methodist lady liked, and 
after supper was over she gathered the 
children around her and told them about 
the time long, long ago when she was a 
little girl. 

Cousin Polly and Uncle Will strolled 
about the spacious rooms so full of rare and 
beautiful things. “ And this is what you 
have been used to all your life,” she said. 
“ I wonder what you are doing to make up 
for it.” 


CHAPTER VL 


STAKS. 

In the quiet night-time, 

Far away so far, 

Clear and fair and steadfast 
Shines a little star. 

Just a little starbeam, 

Yet so softly bright, 

It cheers a tired traveler 
Through a dreary night. 

Happy little faces. 

Eyes that shine with love, 

Make a bit of brightness 
Like the stars above. 

Do you hear the message 
From far away so far ? 

Just to keep on shining 
Like a little star. 

These are the verses Cousin Polly wrote 

that rainy Sunday afternoon. It was the 

dreariest day imaginable. It poured and 
62 


STARS 


63 


poured, Uncle Will was out and Ailie had 
a headache which kept her from being as 
cheerful as usual. Aunt Margaret had 
been very kind, she read Mary Grace a 
story out of her church paper and told her 
about Uncle Will when he was a little boy 
not any older than she was. But after 
lunch there was a whole long afternoon 
and nothing to do. Aunt Margaret could 
take a nap, but Mary Grace did not get 
sleepy in the daytime. 

She stood at the window looking out on 
the lawn, very green and wet. She could 
see Jerry and Jane crouching patiently be- 
side the gate, the water streaming from 
their backs. Mary Grace felt that she 
would be quite happy if she could have 
them in the house to play with. Once, 
when she was much younger, she had cried 
for them and was with difficulty convinced 
that stone lions cannot be made house pets 
of for several reasons. 


64 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


She wondered what Nina and Nansie 
and Little Boy Brown were doing. Since 
her tea-party she had been over to see 
them, and as she told Uncle Will, it Avas 
nice at their house. Aunt Clarice and 
Miss Susanne Avere mistaken about the 
manners. They had much better manners 
than Dorothy and Charlie. Ailie said 
so, and she and Anne had become good 
friends. 

Mary Grace turned to her picture-book 
and then back to the windoAv again. “ Oh, 
Ailie, I wish I had something to do. Can’t 
I have some chocolate? ” she asked. 

At this moment the telephone bell rang 
and Ailie went to answer it. Mary Grace 
followed her. This is what she heard : 

Yes, ma’m, this is Ailie. I’m afraid it’s 
raining too hard. Yes, ma’m, she’s Avell, 
but I don’t know what Miss Clarice would 
say.” 


Ailie, is it Miss Polly ? does she want 


STARS 


65 


me ? Let me go.” Mary Grace jumped 
up and down anxiously 

Ailie motioned to her to be quiet, and 
Mary Grace subsided. 

“ Yes, ma’m. I’ll see if Watts is here. I 
don’t think it will hurt her.” Ailie now 
hung up the receiver with great delibera- 
tion and looked at Mary Grace. “Sure 
I’m crazy to be thinking of it,” she said. 

Mary Grace clasped her hands. The 
rain came with a sweep against the pane. 
“ AVell, if Watts is here — ” said Ailie. 

Fortunately Watts was there ; and Mary 
Grace in a quiver of excitement must have 
on a clean dress and another bow on her 
hair and then be rolled up like a mummj^, 
in a shawl. Watts took her in one arm 
and the umbrella in the other, and Ailie 
watched from the door as they started 
out. 

Mary Grace had never been out in the 
rain before. It was a wonderful expe- 
5 


66 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


rience. She would have clapped her hands 
for joy only she couldn’t get them out of 
the shawl. How the rain dashed against 
the umbrella, what a noise it made, ho^v 
pleasant the damp air felt on her face, and 
how safe she was, held in Watts’ strong 
arm ! 

She laughed joyfully. It’s fun, Watts,” 
she said. 

‘‘The country do be needing it bad,” 
Watts remarked. 

As they passed, Mary Grace waved a 
greeting to Jerry and Jane. She was sure 
they liked the rain. Then in about two 
minutes they were at the Blanchards’ 
door. 

It was opened by Anne who was fol- 
lowed by Cousin Polly and the children, 
and what a laughing and exclaiming went 
on till Mary Grace was unrolled and stood 
safe and sound on her own feet again. 

“ I came over in the rain, and there 


STARS 


67 


didn’t nobody carry me, neither,” L. B. 
observed, looking at Mary Grace with 
much superiority. 

That is very bad grammar, L. B.,” said 
Nina. 

With Cousin Polly’s arm around her, 
Mary Grace was ushered into the sitting- 
room, while the other three danced some- 
thing like a war-dance around her. 

“ Cousin Polly, may we show her the 
book ? ” Nansie asked. 

“ ’Cause she is going to be in it,” Nina 
added. 

Mary Grace had already heard of the 
story Cousin Polly made out of the hap- 
penings of every day, telling it each even- 
ing as if it were the chapter out of a book. 
The children thought it such fun to be in 
a story that Nansie wished it might be 
written down for father and mother. 
After thinking it over Miss Clinton said 
she would try it, and then they would 


68 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


have the book to remember her by when 
she went home. 

So now Mary Grace must hear how they 
went down the Very next day to buy a 
book to put the story in ; how the clerk 
brought out dozens to choose from, and 
L. B. wanted one with roses on the cover, 
and Nansie liked a green one, and Nina 
and Cousin Polly preferred one bound in 
red leather, which was finally decided on. 
Then Cousin Polly had to divide the way 
home into three equal parts so they could 
each have the honor of carrying the pur- 
chase the same distance. 

Mary Grace thought it all very amusing 
and wished she could have been with 
them. She looked with deep interest at 
this most important volume on the first 
page of which was written : “The Book 
of Happy Days.” 

“ Isn’t that a nice name ? ” said Nina. 

“ Because you know. Cousin Polly says 


STARS 


69 


only bright, pleasant days can go into it. 
If it is a bad day the page will be blank,” 
Nansie explained. 

Mary Grace looked toward the window. 

‘‘ Nansie doesn’t mean bad weather out- 
side,” Cousin Polly said, “ but cross, selfish, 
ill-tempered days, — the kind we don’t in- 
tend to have.” 

It really did seem impossible, seeing them 
now, that such days could ever come. 
They sat in a row on the big sofa and had 
Sunday-school. Cousin Polly played on 
the piano and they sang hymns, beginning 
with “ Father, we thank thee,” and ending 
with the song with the many children in it, 
as Mary Grace called her favorite. 

After this they talked about the Golden 
Text on the lesson paper : “ Let your light 
so shine.” They thought of all the many 
kinds of light. Electric-light, gaslight, 
candle-light, lamplight, sunlight, moon- 
\mht were mentioned. 

o 


10 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“ I can think of another kind of light,” 
Cousin Polly said. 

“ I know,” cried Little Boy Brown, 
“ Twilight.” 

This made them laugh, and Miss Clinton 
said that was not the kind she meant. 
Nansie then suggested firelight, and L. B. 
after deep thought said “torchlight.” It 
was Mary Grace’s gentle little voice that 
added “ Starlight.” 

“ That is it,” said Cousin Polly, “ It 
wouldn’t do to forget the stars.” 

She told them about the Lord Jesus who 
came into the world to be a light. Who 
went about loving and helping people, 
comforting them when they were sad, heal- 
ing them when they were sick, until wher- 
ever he went it was like a light shining in 
darkness, and one day, she said, he gath- 
ered his disciples around him on a hillside 
and talked to them, and among other 
things, he told them that they too must be 


STARS 


71 


lights just as he was ; must love people 
and try to help them, “ And so the message 
comes to us, to let our light shine,” she 
added. 

“ And when we are good, and love each 
other and aren’t selfish, then we are lights,” 
said Nina. 

“ I’d like to be a star,” Mary Grace said. 

“ Let’s all be stars,” suggested Nansie. 

“ Dear me, how bright I shall be this 
evening with four stars shining on me,” 
Miss Clinton said gaily. Then she got out 
some cardboard and gilt paper — she al- 
ways seemed to have such things about — 
and cut out and made four five-pointed 
golden stars. On the back of each she 
printed : “ Kind thoughts, kind words, 
kind deeds,” these she said were star- 
beams. 

When Uncle Will came in a little later 
he found them all decorated with stars 
hung on ribbons around their necks. 


72 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“We are stars,” Mary Grace announced, 
dancing up and down. 

“ What, all of you ? I never before met 
so many at a time. I’m overcome. Miss 
Polly, may I stay to supper ? ” 

“ If you will be content with bread and 
cheese ; the cook is out.” 

“ Indeed I will, and I’ll help clean up.” 

“ Much you know about cleaning up. 
However, Anne is here. I have been hear- 
ing things about you. Will,” Miss Polly 
added^ presently. 

“ What sort of things ? ” he asked. 

“ That you are a social lion of the most 
exclusive variety, or words to that effect.” 

Mr. Sargent shrugged his shoulders. 
“ Was it a shock? ” he inquired. 

“ I told her,” said Miss Clinton, “ that 
she was mistaken.” 

“ Thank you.” 

“If I thought it was true I should not 
let you stay to supper,” she said. 


STARS 


73 


“ Thank you again.” 

“ To prove to her how mistaken I’m 
going to ask a favor.” 

“ It is granted.” 

“ Rash young man, there is a lecture next 
week which I wish to attend.” 

“ I’ll take you if it should turn out to 
be on the colonization of the moon,” said 
Mr. Sargent. 

“ It happens to be a trifle more practical 
than that,” laughed Miss Polly. 

Just here supper was announced, and 
Miss Polly made something delicious in a 
chafing-dish to supplement the bread and 
cheese. 

When Mary Grace and Uncle Will went 
home the rain was over and the stars were 
out. 

“ Uncle Will, don’t you think it is nice 
to be a star ? ” Mary Grace asked. “ If 
you are kind and help people then you are 
shining.” 


74 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


When Cousin Polly made the record of 
that afternoon in the Book of Happy 
Days, she added the verses about the little 
star. 


CHAPTER VII 


NELLIE 

Everybody of course knew the postman, 
a round-faced, black-eyed little man, with a 
cheery, hearty manner. Mary Grace often 
watched for him and when he came up the 
walk blowing his whistle she would run 
down to see what he had brought. At 
first she used to peep out from behind Watts 
or Ailie, but after a while she grew brave 
enough to take the letters and papers from 
him herself. He always seemed sorry 
when he hadn’t a letter for her, and quite 
triumphant when he could give her one 
with a foreign stamp. 

To Mary Grace he was just one of the 
many persons who served her, like Watts 


76 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

and Ailie and the rest, and she was rather 
surprised to find he had a name. Besides 
being the postman he was Mr. Meguire and 
more astonishing still he had a little girl. 

It was Nansie and Nina who told her 
about it. They and L. B. were great 
friends with the postman, but even they 
had not heard about Nellie till Cousin Polly 
came. 

Cousin Polly had lived long enough, and 
kept her eyes wide open enough, to find 
out that people are not only postmen, or 
grocery men, or clerks or seamstresses, but 
are usually fathers or mothers or brothers 
or sisters besides, and she had a way — she 
couldn’t have told how — of finding out 
about this side of their lives. 

She was attracted by the postman’s 
cheery manner and one morning when she 
went down to sign for a registered letter, 
in response to his good-morning, she asked 
if everybody at his house was well. A 


NELLIE 


Y7 

cloud passed over the smiling face as he 
answered, “ All except my little girl.” 

Cousin Polly of course asked about her, 
and learned that she had fallen down-stairs 
a few months before and hurt her back so 
seriously she had not walked since. They 
hoped she would get well, but it would be 
a long time, the postman said. 

This was the beginning, and it was not 
long before Miss Clinton knew all about 
the Meguires. They lived in a small frame 
house only a few blocks away, and there 
were eight of them counting the postman 
and his wife. Three children younger and 
two older than Nellie, and all sturdy and 
rosy, and as clean as their anxious little 
mother could keep them. Cousin Polly quite 
fell in love with them, especially with the 
patient invalid who was just Nina’s age. 

The children were deeply interested in 
Nellie, and Cousin Polly promised to take 
them to see her some day. 


78 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

“ Do you think Nellie would like to be 
a star ? ” Nansie asked. 

Cousin Polly said she thought she was a 
star, because she was so patient and brave, 
but she was sure she would like to have a 
visit from some other stars. 

“ And couldn’t you make her a star like 
ours to wear ? ” Nina said. 

Of course the star was made, and one 
afternoon Cousin Polly with her two small 
cousins and Mary Grace went to call on 
the postman’s family. Little Boy Brown 
had gone to see his mother, who was getting 
better. 

Ailie was sure Miss Clarice would not 
like Mary Grace to visit the Meguires, but 
Aunt Margaret said she thought Miss 
Clinton could be trusted. Aunt Marga- 
ret liked Cousin Polly. So Mary Grace 
set out in a flutter of delight. She vras 
having so many new experiences these 
days. 


NELLIE 


Y9 


It was fun to walk along the street with 
Nina and Nansie, stopping when they 
turned the corner, to look in the window 
of the grocery-store which was filled with 
red apples, yellow oranges and grape fruit 
and other ornamental eatables. Mary 
Grace did not feel in the least shy to-day, 
but talked as fast as the others. 

They each carried something to Nellie. 
Nina had a book, Nansie a paper doll, and 
Mary Grace a great red rose which she took 
from the tall vase in the library. Aunt 
Clarice sent roses to sick people, and it had 
not occurred to her to give away any of 
her own toys. 

In the door of the grocery sat a stately 
gray cat, and Mary Grace lost her heart to 
him when, following Nansie’s example, she 
ventured to stroke his head with her little 
white gloved hand, and in response he 
arched his back and purred. 

“ Auntie won’t let me have a pussy cat 


80 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


’cause she says they scratch,” she remarked 
wistfully. 

“ I was under the impression we were go- 
ing to see the postman’s little girl, but I see 
I was mistaken, it was Mr. Tompkin’s cat,” 
Cousin Polly remarked gravely after several 
minutes had passed, spent in fervent 
admiration. 

This made them laugh, and they said 
good-by to the cat and started on, arriving 
at the Meguires’ without further detention. 
Mary Grace thought it a funny place to 
live in. It did not seem much larger than 
her play-house, and not half so pretty, but 
nothing could have been prettier than 
Nellie, lying in her white bed, with her 
sweet blue eyes, and dark rings of hair 
around her pale little face. 

Nellie’s bed w^as in a room next to the 
kitchen, so her mother could take care of 
her and attend to other things besides. 
This seemed odd, for when Mary Grace 


NELLIE 81 

had measles Ailie and Aunt Clarice did 
nothing but wait on her and amuse her. 

‘‘ Here’s Miss Clinton and some nice little 
girls come to see you, Nellie,” Mrs. Meguire 
said, ushering them in. 

Nellie smiled at Cousin Polly, and an- 
swered her questions shyly, but her eyes 
were on the three little girls who stood 
gazing at her so gravely. 

“ I have brought these little girls to see 
you because you have only boys here at 
your house,” Cousin Polly said, and then 
she introduced them. 

‘‘ I have a picture-book for you, Nellie,” 
Nina said, laying it on the bed. 

“ And here’s a paper doll,” added Nansie. 

Mary Grace couldn’t find her voice at 
all, but she came close to the bedside and 
held out the rose. Nellie dropped the 
doll and took it in both hands, “ O, Mamma, 
see the lovely rose ! ” she cried. 

She always did love flowers better than 
6 


82 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


anything,” Mrs. Meguire explained to Miss 
Clinton. “ Yes, my dearie, it is pretty, and 
so are the other things they have brought 
you” 

But Nellie could think of nothing but 
the rose. Presently she ]*eached out and 
put a small finger on Mary Grace’s shoulder ; 
they smiled at each other; “I like you,” 
Nellie said. 

‘‘Truly — can’t you walk? not a bit?” 
Mary Grace asked. 

Nellie shook her head. “ But I’m going 
to get well,” she added. 

“ Don’t you like me too ? ” Nina asked ; 

Nellie nodded, “ I like you all,” she said, 
but it was plain that Mary Grace and the 
rose had the first place. 

After a while her mother persuaded her 
to have the rose put in water, and then she 
became interested in the paper doll, and 
over trying on its dresses they grew very 
sociable. Nansie told her about the stars 


NELLIE 


83 


and Nina said the verses for her, and Nellie 
said she wanted to be one too, and was 
very much pleased when Cousin Polly took 
out the gold star she had made and hung 
it round her neck. 

Besides Nellie they saw three rOund- 
faced, chubby boys, the youngest only a 
baby, who looked so much like their father 
that Cousin Polly called them the little 
postmen. The two older boys delivered 
papers in the afternoons, and would not be 
home till dark. 

“ Is Nellie a little postgirl ? ” Mary 
Grace asked on the way home. 

“ Did you know the postman had a little 
girl ? ” she said to Uncle Will that night. 
“ Such a many children and such a little 
house,” she added. “ Don’t you like little 
children. Uncle Will ? ” 

The conversation was chiefly on Mary 
Grace’s side this evening, but she was quite 
equal to the occasion. She told all about 


84 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


their visit to Nellie and even brought in 
the gray cat ; then she remarked without 
any connection at all, “ Uncle Will, Anne 
asked Ailie what you did, and Ailie said 
you didn’t do anything but take care of 
what you had. Don’t you ? ” 

Uncle Will replied rather impatiently 
that Ailie knew nothing about it. 

This was the evening of the lecture to 
which Mr. Sargent had promised to take 
Miss Clinton. He had made no further in- 
quiries about it and he was half sorry he 
had promised to go. As he acknowledged 
to Miss Polly, he was feeling a little bored 
with life. 

“You need to be waked up. Nobody is 
bored who is wide awake,” she responded. 

This did not please Mr. Sargent. He 
considered himself extremely wide awake, 
and he showed his displeasure by becoming 
silent. 

Miss Polly asked if he knew where he 


NELLIE 


85 


was going, and told him it was a meeting 
of the Civic League, but this did not en- 
lighten him much. 

It was not a large gathering, and Mr. 
Sargent was surprised to see a number of 
persons whom he knew, and one thing he 
noticed was that everybody seemed greatly 
in earnest about something. 

There were several speakers, men and 
women, who talked simply and forcibly 
about the way to make and enforce laws 
for the protection of little children who, in- 
stead of being sent to school, worked in 
factories and stores and sold papers and 
chewing-gum on the streets at night. 

It was nothing really new. He had 
known it all before, vaguely, but had never 
thought much about it. It had not seemed 
to be a thing he could help. To-night he 
learned that he might do something if he 
would. He thought of Mary Grace’s 
question. “You like little children, don’t 


86 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


you ? ” Perhaps Ailie had been right. 
He had been standing idle, taking care of 
what he had. 

When an opportunity was given for 
questions Mr. Sargent asked several, and 
when the meeting was over he put his 
name down as a member of the League. 

“ How did you know about this. Miss 
Polly ? ” he asked on the way home. 

“ Why, Child Labor and Compulsory 
Education are the subjects of the day. I 
have done some work for the cause at home, 
and I happen to know some people here 
who are pushing it. I am pleased if it in- 
terested you,” was Miss Clinton’s reply. 

“ I am glad you took me to the meeting. 
You were right about my not being awake,” 
Mr. Sargent said. 

Miss Clinton laughed. “At least you 
were not very sound asleep. Will.” 


CHAPTER VIII 


SHOPPING 

‘‘ Just think. Watts, she can’t walk at all. 
Suppose I couldn’t walk ! ” Mary Grace 
all dressed for going out, sat in one of the 
deep library chairs with her feet straight 
before her, trying to imagine how it would 
seem not to be able to get down and run 
away, whenever she pleased. 

‘‘ I’d have to carry you I reckon,” Watts 
answered brushing the hearth very de- 
liberately and looking over his shoulder. 

“ Would you carry me everywhere I 
wanted to go? That would be fun. I 
don’t believe Nellie has anybody to carry 

her, ’cause the postman is too busy. 

87 


88 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


Watts, did you know I was going shop- 
ping ? ” 

“ Is that so ? ” said Watts, still brushing. 

“ Yes, and Ailie isn’t going either, — just 
me and Uncle Will. Perhaps I’ll bring 
you something. Watts.” Mary Grace took 
out her purse with the gold monogram on 
it. 

‘‘ That’s mighty kind of you,” said 
Watts. 

I wished and wished I could go shop- 
ping, but Miss Susanne wouldn’t let me.” 

“ But now you are going.” 

“ Yes, all my wishes are coming true ; I 
am going to be in a story too. Watts. 
Miss Polly is going to put us all in it, and 
we are stars. When you are good and 
don’t cry when your hair is curled, and if 
you do things for people, then you are a 
star. Don’t you want to hear me say the 
verses Miss Polly wrote ? ” 

Mary Grace recited them with great 


SHOPPING 


89 


earnestness, but before sbe bad quite fin- 
isbed Uncle Will called ber. 

“Just to keep on shining 
Like a little star.” 

“ Good-by, Watts,” and away sbe ran. 

If Mary Grace was having new experi- 
ences these days so was ber uncle. Kather 
to bis surprise be bad discovered that for a 
long time be bad been doing the same 
things over and over ; meeting the same 
people, talking about the same things, eat- 
ing the same sort of dinners, and that there 
were other people, other subjects and even 
other dinners in the world, at least worth 
investigating. 

This afternoon be felt be was striking 
out in a new direction and being rather 
original and independent, all because be 
was taking bis small niece to the Ten Cent 
Store. The eager delight in Mary Grace’s 
face was enough to repay him, however, 
for a much greater sacrifice. 


90 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


The same boy, with what looked like the 
same dirty face, was opening and closing 
the door as on the day when Mary Grace 
sat in the carriage and imagined herself 
going in. 

Mr. Sargent looked about with interest, 
it seemed incredible that so many articles, 
at the price of ten cents each, could be 
brought together. He really felt impelled 
to buy something himself. 

Mary Grace walked slowly down the 
aisle looking with all her eyes. At length 
she paused. “ I want one of these silver 
baskets,” she said. 

Uncle Will regarded the wire baskets 
doubtfully. “ What are they meant for ? ” 
he asked. 

“ They are frying baskets, for croquettes 
or potato chips,” the girl behind the coun- 
ter explained. 

“You don’t want a frying basket, Mary 
Grace,” her uncle urged. 





SHE SPENT SOME TIME OVER THE BEAD CHAINS 





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SHOPPING 


91 


“ Yes, I do ; yes, I do,” Mary Grace in- 
sisted. “ It is pretty. I can put things in 
it.” 

‘‘ Some people plant ferns in them,” the 
clerk suggested, ‘^Perhaps the little girl 
could use it for that.” 

“ Yes, I’ll take it,” said Mary Grace, and 
this settled the matter. 

A small scrubbing-brush was the next 
purchase. “ You seem to be domestic in 
your tastes,” her uncle remarked. 

Mary Grace did not know what domestic 
meant, but she knew what a scrubbing- 
brush was for. Then she spent some time 
over the bead chains, selecting several. 

“ Suppose we look at pictures now,” 
Uncle Will suggested, standing between 
his niece and a counter covered with tins. 

She agreed to this, though with her head 
over her shoulder she asked, “Don’t you 
think we might buy 07 ie tin pan. Uncle 
Will?” 


92 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


‘‘ I don’t believe I would,” he said. 

The pictures were so interesting Mary 
Grace forgot the pans, and the rest of her 
purchases were harmless enough. A Jack- 
in-the-box, a rubber dog, a cube of pins 
and a box of toothpicks, — these last for 
Watts. 

But now a difficulty arose. 

“ Shall I send them ? ” asked the clerk. 

Mr. Sargent was just giving the num- 
ber, when a protest went up from Mary 
Grace. 

“ I want to carry my package,” she said. 
“ Nina and Nansie did.” 

It was one thing for the elegant Mr. 
Sargent to accompany his niece to the Ten 
Cent Store, and quite another to walk out 
the principal street in town with a knobby 
package under his arm. His dignity re- 
belled. “There are too many things. We 
can’t carry them ! ” he said positively. 

Mary Grace’s lips quivered. “ ’Tisn’t any 


SHOPPING 


93 


fun to go shopping and buy things if you 
can’t carry them, — Nansie did.” 

It was most unreasonable in Mary Grace, 
but a crowded store was no place for ar- 
gument. Mr. Sargent looked helplessly at 
the clerk. She came to his relief with the 
suggestion that they have all the small 
things tied up in the basket for the little 
girl to carry herself, and have the others sent. 

Thus it was finally arranged though Mary 
Grace was by no means satisfied. “ If you 
are naughty I can’t bring you down town 
again, — ever,” Uncle Will said gravely. 

Mary Grace couldn’t see why it was 
naughty to want to carry her package. She 
felt a little unhappy about it. She forgot 
it in the interest of walking home along 
the busy street, and when they stopped in 
to see Cousin Polly for a minute she heard 
Uncle Will telling about it and laughing, 
which was odd, to say the least. 

They found Cousin Polly and the children 


94 : IT ALL CAME TRUE 

making cookies. When Nina and Nansie 
and L. B. ran in to see them, all done up in 
gingham aprons, a most delicious fragrance 
followed in their wake, and it seemed they 
were helping cut the cookies out in all 
sorts of interesting shapes. 

Mary Grace wanted very much to see 
how it was done, so Cousin Polly took them 
into the kitchen, it being, as she explained, 
the cook’s afternoon out, and tying another 
apron around Mary Grace’s neck let her 
cut out some rings and stars, while her 
uncle was regaled with some fresh from the 
oven. 

Mary Grace thought it was even more 
fun than going shopping. She was never 
allowed in the kitchen at home. 

“ Children love so to make things,” said 
Cousin Polly, beaming on the happy faces 
around the table. 

“ And somebody I know loves to make 
them happy,” added Uncle Will. 


SHOPPING 


95 


‘‘ I’m not the only one,” Cousin Polly 
replied. 

Mary Grace of course showed the chil- 
dren her purchases, and when she went 
home she gave Ailie the cube of pins and 
Watts the box of toothpicks, which pleased 
them very much. 

That night when Aunt Margaret asked 
if she had been a good girl, Mary Grace 
hesitated, remembering that Uncle Will 
had called her naughty. Aunt Margaret, 
when she heard the story, explained that it 
wasn’t naughty to want to carry her pack- 
age, but to insist upon it when Uncle Will 
did not think it best, was not being a good 
little girl. 

The puzzle was why Uncle Will did not 
like to carry packages. 

“ Any way, he laughed when he told 
Miss Polly,” she said; then she added, 
“ but I cried a little. I ’spect that wasn’t 
being a star.” 


CHAPTER IX 

A BLANK PAGE 

The Book of Happy Days continued to 
grow. The stars did not forget to shine, 
and every night Cousin Polly added to the 
story. They even took the book to show 
Nellie, and Cousin Polly read her the 
chapter about their first visit to her. 

Mary Grace also carried the chains she 
had bought at the Ten Cent Store, and let 
Nellie choose the one she liked best, and 
when this turned out to be the blue one 
which she preferred herself, she did not 
say a word, because Nellie couldn’t walk. 

It seemed very strange that a storm 
should sweep over the sky in the midst of 

such pleasant weather. There must have 
96 


A BLANK PAGE 


97 


been something in the air that morning, — 
not of course that you could really blame 
the air, but it is natural to try to find some 
excuse or explanation for naughtiness. 

To begin with, Mary Grace cried when 
her hair was curled, and refused to wear 
the dress Ailie had laid out. 

“ It isn’t much of a star you are being 
now. I wish Miss Polly could see you,” 
Ailie said. 

“ I am not going to be a star any more. 
Stars don’t shine in the daytime any way,” 
announced Mary Grace. 

She did not quite mean this, however, 
and brightened up a little after the process 
of dressing was over. The crossness was 
still there, only it was out of sight. 

It happened that this same morning 
found Nina and Nansie in trouble, and — of 
all things — over a button-hook. Nothing 
would do but they must both use mamma’s 
silver button-hook at the very same mo- 
7 


98 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


ment. As this was impossible there was 
a struggle. 

“ I am the oldest, I ought to have it,” 
Nina cried. 

I got it first and I’m going to use it 
first,” Nansie insisted, holding it fast. 
When Nina tried to take it from her she 
hurt her finger, and tears and angry words 
followed. 

“ I don’t care which is oldest or which 
is youngest, you are both naughty girls,” 
Anne declared, with strict impartiality. “ I 
wonder what Mary Grace would say.” 

Cousin Polly, being occupied with some 
letters, did not notice the signs of conflict, 
and breakfast passed off quietly. 

The trouble began again in the afternoon 
when the stars were playing together. 
They pretended Mary Grace was a princess, 
and rescued her from the lions, and then 
that she was a lame girl like Nellie, and 
they came to see her and brought her things. 


A BLANK PAGE 


99 


It seemed to Mary Grace that the other 
children had the most fun, and after a 
while she refused to be a princess or a lame 
girl any longer. 

All right,” said Nina, “ then we’ll play 
‘ tally-ho ’ and you shan’t ride in it.” 

This favorite game was played with a big 
armchair, on the back and arms of which 
the passengers sat while the driver occupied 
a table placed in front, from which he 
guided his spirited horses, two rocking- 
chairs. 

Not to be allowed to ride in the taby-ho 
was dreadful. Mary Grace began to cry. 

Nansie comforted her and said she should 
ride, but Nina and L. B. called her a cry- 
baby. The trouble was smoothed over by 
Ailie, who had been down-stairs talking to 
Anne and now came to see what was going 
on. When she left they were all happily 
seated in the big chair, while L. B. pulled 
his reins and made the horses go furiously. 


Ltf C. 


100 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

“ Our mother is coming home next day 
after to-morrow,” said Nansie. 

“ I am so glad, ’cause she is the dearest, 
prettiest mother in the world,” added 
Nina. 

“ No, she isn’t,” Mary Grace contradicted. 
“ My mother is.” 

“ My mother is the best of all,” L. B. 
insisted stoutly. 

So the dispute began, and sad to say it 
ended by Mary Grace slapping Nansie, who 
pushed her off the chair, and L. B. and 

Nina but really it isn’t pleasant to tell 

about. Enough to say that such wails 
arose as brought Cousin Polly and Ailie 
and Anne all flying to the rescue. 

They found four injured little mortals, 
each with a grievance to tell, all crying and 
trying to explain at once. Ailie wanted 
to take her baby home but Cousin Polly 
wouldn’t let her. She refused to listen to 
any of the complaints ; she said they needed 


A BLANK PAGE 


101 


to be by themselves, and she put Nansie in 
her mother’s room and Nina in the nursery, 
and leaving L. B., who was the most calm 
of them all, to sit on the third-story stairs, 
she took Mary Grace into her own room. 

“ It makes me feel dreadfully to have all 
my stars go out at once,” Cousin Polly 
said, lifting Mary Grace to the sofa. 

“ I’m not going to be a star any more. 
I’m going home and never, never coming 
again. Nansie pushed me,” she sobbed. 

Miss Polly said nothing, and by and by 
Mary Grace stopped crying enough to no- 
tice how still it was. Out in the hall L. B. 
was kicking his heels against the step. 
Not as if he were angry, but just for some- 
thing to do. 

Miss Polly sat by the window, and by 
and by she said, “ I wonder what Nellie 
would think.” 

Mary Grace caught her breath with a 
sob. She had forgotten Nellie. 


102 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

‘‘ I am afraid she is the only star left,” 
Miss Polly added. 

The storm gradually calmed down, and 
it was not so very long before Cousin Polly 
gathered a tearful little group around her 
to talk it over. 

“First I am going to guess what the 
trouble was,” she said. “ Somebody, I 
think, forgot to be kind. Now each one of 
you try to remember — never mind what 
the others did — did you do anything un- 
kind ? Did you, Nansie ? ” 

“ Why, Cousin Polly, I pushed Mary 
Grace, but she — ” 

“Never mind that. Mary Grace, did 
you do anything unkind ? ” 

“I touched her just a little bit, like that, 
on her m^m,” Mary Grace laid a gentle 
hand on Miss Polly’s arm, “ ’cause she said 
my mother wasn’t pretty.” 

In this way, a little at a time, the whole 
story came out. Cousin Polly looked at the 


,A BLANK PAGE 


103 


tear-stained faces. “What silly children,” 
she exclaimed. “ Don’t you know each 
child must love its own mother best and 
think her the dearest, prettiest mother in 
the world ? Nina and Nansie think it of 
their mother, and Mary Grace and Little 
Boy Brown of theirs, and they are all right 
about it. Besides, Nina and Nansie haven’t 
seen Mary Grace’s mother and she hasn’t 
seen theirs. Wasn’t it a foolish thing to 
quarrel about, and spoil a page in our 
book ? ” 

The children looked at each other. They 
had forgotten the book. 

“ Won’t there be any story to-night ? ” 
asked Nina. 

Cousin Polly shook her head. “ It hasn’t 
been a happy day,” she said. 

They all looked very sorrowful over 
this. 

“When you have been naughty what 
can you do ? ” asked Cousin Polly. 


104 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


‘‘You can be sorry,” Nannie answered. 

“ And not do it any more,” said Mary 
Grace. 

“ Are you sorry ? ” 

L. B. held up his hand as he did in 
school. “ I am,” he said. 

They all were, there was no doubt about 
it, and Cousin Polly talked to them a little 
more and reminded to tell the Father in 
heaven about it that night. 

So the stars began to shine again, but 
there was no helping that blank page in 
the Book of Happy Days. Cousin Polly 
wrote on it the date and these words : 

“ Here is just a single line, 

To say the stars forgot to shine.” 


CHAPTER X 


PKEPARATIONS 

Christmas was coming, as it usually 
does before anybody is quite ready for it. 
That is, of course, excepting the children. 

“ I wish it would come ten times a year,” 
said Little Boy Brown. 

“ I wish it would come every day,” 
Nansie said, and the others quite agreed 
with her, and couldn’t understand Cousin 
Polly when she remarked that if it came 
every day it wouldn’t be any better than 
any other day. 

Each morning there seemed a little more 
of Christmas in the air. Even the drug- 
store windows took on a festive appearance, 

and as for the grocery, it seemed fairly 
105 


106 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


bursting with good things, and the dignified 
gray cat actually looked as if he smelled 
a Christmas mouse — if you know what 
that is. 

Miss Clinton had talked of going home, 
but nobody would listen to such a prepos- 
terous idea. But this time she w^as being 
found out. She had friends everywhere, 
and the people who knew her always 
wanted some one else to know her, so she 
began to have a great many calls and invi- 
tations. 

Miss Polly said she had come away from 
home for rest and quiet, not for society, but 
Mrs. Blanchard, who had returned quite 
well again, said she should not give all her 
time to the children, which seemed to be 
her idea of rest and quiet. “ What was the 
use of having a charming cousin if you 
could not show her off ? ” she wanted to 
know. 

Uncle Will said Miss Polly did not care 


PREPARATIONS 


107 


for polite society, but preferred butchers 
and bakers and postmen. 

“ Why, Uncle Will, the postman is very 
polite,” urged Mary Grace who overheard 
his remark. 

“ He is polite but he isn’t society,” her 
uncle explained gravely. 

Are you society ? ” Mary Grace asked, 
puzzled. 

“ Cousin Polly likes everybody,” Nina 
announced, going back to the original 
question. 

“ And everybody likes her,” Little Boy 
Brown added. 

Cousin Polly laughed and said this was 
the politest society she had ever enjoyed, 
and that Uncle Will was entirely mistaken 
about her preferences. 

Cousin Polly’s favorite motto was, “We 
are here to help,” and she very well knew 
there were people to help in every sort of 
society. If there was anything she did not 


108 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


realize it was how much good her gracious, 
happy presence alone often did. Uncle 
Will said her spirit was catching, and so it 
was. Certainly the little stars caught 
some of their light from her, and in spite 
of the demands of society she found time 
for them. 

Mary Grace and Uncle Will comparing 
notes before the fire in the evening dis- 
covered that there were two ways of seeing 
life, from the outside and from the inside. 
Having cake to eat, or even to hand 
around is not the only pleasure ; there is 
the stirring it up, putting it in the pan and 
baking it. 

Mary Grace had had Christmas trees, and 
parties, and all that, but for the first time 
in her life she was really in it. Put away 
safely, where she could look at it every 
day, she had a book-mark for Uncle Will 
made by her own fingers, and she was now 
making a small pincushion for auntie to 


PREPARATIONS 


109 


carry in her traveling bag. Aunt Mar- 
garet was helping her. Besides, there 
were the trimmings for Nellie’s tree. For 
weeks the stars had been busy on these. 

There were chains of gilt paper, strings 
of popcorn and cranberries ; there were 
some gay-colored balls made by Aunt 
Margaret, and best of all, the dearest pair 
of pink slippers she had knitted for Nellie. 
Mary Grace hung over them enchanted. 

It was Cousin Polly of course who sug- 
gested giving Nellie a Christmas tree. She 
rather suspected times were hard at the 
postman’s this winter, with so many 
children, and Nellie’s illness, and every- 
thing in the way of groceries so high, so 
she asked Mrs. Meguire one day if the 
stars might trim a tree for Nellie. 

The postman’s wife wiped her eyes as 
she acknowledged they could not do much 
for Christmas this year, and had told the 
children they must not expect any presents. 


110 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

Miss Clinton assured her that the stars 
were burning up with energy ; that it was 
a mercy to give them something to do ; and 
nothing would make them so happy as 
working for Nellie. 

In this way it began. When Uncle 
Will heard of it, through Mary Grace, he 
wanted to give the tree. Cousin Polly 
said he might if he w^ould be sure not to 
have it too big, for the postman’s house 
was small. 

If you haven’t experienced the thrill of 
delight that comes of preparing for some- 
thing, of having things put away in a 
drawer which you can pull open and peep 
into several times a day, of feeling each 
night when you put your head on your 
pillow that it is one day nearer, then you 
cannot sympathize with the stars. 

Half the pleasure in life is in getting 
ready for things. Uncle Will, working on 
the Civic League over the drafting of a 


PREPARATIONS 


111 

bill for the enforcement of factory laws, 
felt it. He was not bored these days. 
Being wide awake he saw matters of in- 
terest on all sides. He even looked at the 
people in the crowded street cars in a new 
way. 

This spirit of friendliness induced him one 
day to lean over and speak to Mr. Brown, 
who sat opposite. L. B.’s chubby face had 
had from the first a familiar look to him, 
and now he knew why, as he recalled meet- 
ing Mr. Brown in an architect’s ofi^ice on 
several occasions some years before. Two 
months ago it would not have occurred to 
him there was any reason for entering into 
conversation with this somewhat shabby - 
looking young man. 

Mr. Brown remembered Mr. Sargent 
perfectly, but did not respond very cor- 
dially at first. It was only upon mention 
of L. B. and Miss Polly that he began to 
thaw. 


112 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

Mr. Sargent asked for Mrs. Brown, ex- 
plaining that he had heard of her illness 
from Miss Clinton. 

“Miss Clinton is the kindest person I 
ever met,” Mr. Brown said earnestly. 

“ I have known her since I was a boy 
and I believe she is,” Mr. Sargent replied. 

“ I can’t tell you how good she has been 
to us. She has a way of cheering you up, 
of making you feel there is a way out of 
your difficulties.” 

So Mr. Brown had difficulties. Mr. 
Sargent asked if he were still with the 
same firm. 

“ No, I have opened an office of my own, 
and am ready for business,” Mr. Brown 
answered with a grim smile that said he 
was more ready than busy. 

“ I shall be wanting something in your 
line ; I’ll look in on you one of these days,” 
were Mr. Sargent’s parting words. 

He might never have thought of it again, 


PREPARATIONS 


113 


however, if he had not heard Miss Polly 
say that she wished she could cheer up all 
the discouraged people at Christmas, if only 
for one day. Particularly the people wdio 
have honestly tried and have not suc- 
ceeded,” she added. 

This suggested Mr. Brown. He had 
been pushed out of his position to make 
room for a relative of a member of the 
firm, Miss Clinton said. Mrs. Brown had 
told her about it, and the difficulty he was 
finding in getting a start by himself. 

“ If I remember, he did good work on the 
plans for our office building. I’ll give him 
something if I can,” Mr. Sargent said. 

“ There is nothing so splendid as giving 
people a chance. If you can help him. 
Will, I shall be so glad.” Miss Polly 
spoke as if it were a personal matter. 


CHAPTER XI 


AUNT CLARICE 

Aunt Clarice two handred miles away, 
was feeling annoyed and anxious. Her 
worst fears, like Mary Grace’s wishes, seem- 
ed to be coming true. 

It had not been possible to keep the real 
state of affairs from her for long. Her 
brother wrote explaining. “You must not 
worry about Mary Grace,” he said, “ I 
flatter myself I am a success as a guardian, 
and in any emergency Aunt Margaret is 
here to be appealed to. My old friend. Miss 
Pauline Clinton, is visiting next door, at the 
Blanchards’, who, by the ^vay, are delight- 
ful people. There are two little girls who 

have made friends with Mary Grace, and 
114 


AUNT CLARICE 


115 


altogether she and I have become rather 
intimate with our neighbors. I am sure 
you will like them.” 

“ Will like them,” indeed ! Miss Sargent 
had no idea of liking them, or of knowing 
them even distantly. Who were these 
people of whom she had never heard ? She 
knew who Miss Clinton was, the sister of 
her brother’s friend, daughter of the well- 
known professor, but there was no telling 
what sort of a person she was. As for the 
children. Miss Sargent had taken up a prej- 
udice against them. She had seen them 
running about the yard, bareheaded and in 
gingham aprons, and was sure they w^ere 
not the associates she desired for her deli- 
cate little flower. 

As for poor, plain Aunt Margaret, what 
good was she ? Aunt Margaret was some- 
thing of a trial to her aristocratic niece, 
having in truth much the same pride in 
being a plain old-fashioned Methodist that 


116 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


Miss Clarice had in being something quite 
the opposite. 

“You know, Alice,” Miss Sargent said to 
her sister, “ Mary Grace is at a most im- 
pressionable age. Till now I have been 
able to guard her from everything inhar- 
monious. I have wished her to come in 
contact with nothing but the most delicate 
refinement, and it is hard that through no 
fault of mine she should be exposed to 
alien influences.” 

This phrase pleased Miss Sargent, and 
she dwelt upon it, forgetting her experi- 
ence with Dorothy. 

A letter from Dorothy’s mother further 
annoyed her. Mrs. Van Cleeve complained 
that Mr. Sargent was deserting his old 
friends this winter, — for philanthropy, she 
heard. 

Miss Clarice decided she must go home 
if she had to go on crutches, before things 
were turned completely upside down- 


AUNT CLARICE 


117 

She must find a new governess for Mary 
Grace and investigate her brother’s phil- 
anthropy. 

A few days before Christmas the journey 
began to seem possible. She waited till 
the last minute then telegraphed to her 
brother that she would arrive on the eve- 
ning train. 

As she approached home Miss Sargent 
found herself feeling excited and almost 
nervous. Two months had passed since 
she had seen Mary Grace. She hoped they 
would think to send her down in the car- 
riage. Her brother she was sure would 
meet her at the junction outside the city, 
but in this she was disappointed, and when 
she descended from the car in the station, 
assisted by her maid and the porter, there 
was no familiar face waiting to greet her. 

It was very disappointing. Her brother 
might have been detained, but where was 
Watts ? Marie assisted her to the waiting- 


118 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


room and went to look for the carriage, 
returning to say it was not to be seen. 

It was plain her telegram had gone as- 
tray, yet Miss Sargent could not control a 
feeling of being slighted in some way. 
She was a person of importance, ac- 
customed to be treated as such, and after a 
long absence to have her arrival ignored, 
to be compelled to take a public cab was 
extremely annoying. 

Her imagination began to picture all 
sorts of direful possibilities. Mary Grace 
was ill. Something had happened to Will. 
By the time she reached the house Miss 
Sargent was the victim of excessive nerv- 
ousness. 

Watts, who opened the door, though 
too well trained to betray any great emo- 
tion, was clearly surprised to see his mis- 
tress. 

“ How is it. Watts, that the carriage was 
not sent to meet me ? I telegraphed to 


AUNT CLARICE 


119 


Mr. Sargent this morning that I would be 
here.” 

Watts did not understand it. Mr. 
Sargent had been out of town all day. 
Yes, he did remember a telegram. It had 
been put with some letters on Mr. Sargent’s 
table. 

From the library came the sound of 
voices. Miss Sargent moved in that 
direction. She was a most stately person, 
and the cane she leaned on seemed actually 
to add to her stateliness. At the open 
door she paused. 

Directly before her was the glowing 
wood fire, and on the rug in front of it 
were four children — one of them her own 
little niece — and a lady, upon whose ani- 
mated face their eyes were fixed. At one 
side, a little withdrawn, sat Aunt Margaret, 
knitting placidly, and the table near her 
was piled with something that certainly did 
not belong on a library table. All this 


120 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


Miss Sargent’s swift glance took in. Not 
to be expected was bad enough, but to walk 
in upon a scene of such content made her 
feel she was not even wanted. 

It happened that Cousin Polly who had 
been taking lessons from Aunt Margaret in 
slipper making, ran ovei* in the afternoon 
to ask some further instruction. Aunt 
Margaret was in the library and after her 
questions were answered Miss Clinton 
stayed chatting with her. She had been to 
a luncheon, and looked very handsome in 
her light dress and plumy hat. 

Up-stairs' in the nursery the children 
were putting the finishing touches to the 
decorations for N ellie’s tree. A box of glit- 
tering things had arrived from down town 
and they were exclaiming over them when 
they heard Cousin Polly was down-stairs. 
Nothing would do but they must show her 
their new treasures and away they flew, 
while Ailie followed with the box. 


AUNT CLARICE 


121 


It must be that extravagant Will,” 
Cousin Polly said when Ailie spread them 
out on tlie table. “Won’t Nellie have a 
beautiful tree ? ” 

“ And we are going to trim it to-morrow, 
Cousin Polly, aren’t we ? ” cried Nansie. 
Then they all clapped their hands and 
danced around the table like wild In- 
dians. 

Among other things w'as an angel with 
shining wings, and a big gold star to go at 
the top of the tree, and yards and yards of 
gleaming tinsel, which sent out sparks of . 
light when Watts came in and put some 
wood on the fire. 

“Come, sit down on the rug and let’s 
talk,” Cousin Polly suggested, taking an 
ottoman herself. 

Like four little pigeons the children flut- 
tered down on the bearskin beside her, get- 
ting as close as possible, laughing and out 
of breath. 


122 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

“ Take care of Miss Polly’s dress,” Aunt 
Margaret warned them. 

“ Doesn’t she look nice,” said Nina. “ Is 
this your best dress. Cousin Polly ? ” 

Miss Clinton only laughed, and said it 
was a nuisance to be dressed up when you 
wished to have a really sociable time. 

Mary Grace slipped a small hand into 
Miss Polly’s. “ Isn’t it lovely ? ” she ex- 
claimed. 

‘‘ What, mousie ? ” 

Mary Grace’s eyes traveled to the table 
with its burden of shining things, then re- 
turned to her companions on the hearth 
rug. “Everything,” she said joyously. 

“ Why do we put stars on our Christmas 
trees ? ” Cousin Polly asked. 

“ Becauses Jesus had a star,” Little Boy 
Brown answered. 

“ Yes ; when he was born a tiny baby a 
beautiful star shone out. It was so bright 
and clear it guided the Wise Men across the 


AUNT CLARICE 123 

desert to the little town of Bethlehem. It 
meant that the tiny baby was to grow up 
to be a great light in the world. Some- 
thing like this happens whenever a little 
child is born. A new star does not appear 
in the sky, but a new light comes into the 
world.” 

Can we be Christmas stars ? ” asked 

L. B. 

’Course we can. That’s why we are 
trimming Nellie’s tree,” said Nansie. 

“ It is fun to be a Christmas star,” Mary 
Grace said, pressing her palms together 
softly. 

Something at this moment caused Miss 
Polly’s eyes to turned toward the door 
where they encountered Miss Sargent’s. 
Then Mary Grace’s cry, “Auntie, auntie ! ” 
broke the stillness, as she rushed upon 
the stately figure. 

Miss Sargent bent to clasp her, “ My dar- 
ling baby,” she said. 


124 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


An awkward moment followed. The 
children stood and stared, Cousin Polly’s 
eyes looked as if she were trying not to 
laugh. Aunt Margaret advanced in placid 
surprise. “We were not looking for you, 
Clarice.” 

“ It seems not,” her niece replied stiffly. 

Miss Polly went forward without wait- 
ing for Aunt Margaret to remember her. 
“Miss Sargent, I am Miss Clinton,” she 
said. “ Perhaps you have heard your 
brother speak of me. I feel like apologiz- 
ing for what must seem to you an intrusion. 
We had not planned to give you such a 
prompt welcome.” Miss Polly’s manner 
was winning, and, as has been said, she had 
on her prettiest clothes. 

Miss Sargent couldn’t hold out against 
her ; and when Miss Polly went on to hope 
she would give her a chance to know her 
sometime, and asked sympathetically about 
her journey and her injured ankle. Miss 


AVNT CLARICE 


125 


Sargent could not help responding with a 
degree of graciousness she was afterwards 
inclined to regret. 

This was when she heard about Nellie’s 
Christinas tree. If Mary Grace had been 
more experienced she would have avoided 
the subject this evening. 

“ Don’t you think Mary Grace is looking 
well ? ” Uncle Will asked his sister, proud 
of the results of his guardianship. He had 
come in just at dinner-time. 

Miss Sargent acknowledged that she did. 
“ And she has changed ; she seems older.” 

“ I am most as big a girl as Nina,” Mary 
Grace remarked, leaning against her aunt’s 
chair. 

“ How did you come to know these little 
girls ? ” Aunt Clarice asked. 

“ Uncle Will took me to see them,” Mary 
Grace replied. “We are going to trim 
Nellie’s tree to-morrow,” she added. 

“ And who is Nellie ? ” 


126 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“ She is the postman’s girl. Did you 
know he had a little girl, auntie ? She 
can’t walk, so we are going to see her and 
trim her tree for her. They live in the 
littlest house ! ” 

“ You can’t go there, dear, but we can 
send the things ; that will be very nice, 
but auntie’s darling mustn’t go to such 
places, she might be exposed to some 
disease.” 

Mary Grace stood firm, though her face 
took on an anxious expression. “ But we 
do go, don’t we. Uncle Will ? And it isn’t 
catching, Ailie said it wasn’t,” she urged. 

“The place is all right enough, sister. 
Perfectly clean and respectable, otherwise 
Miss Polly would not have taken the 
children there,” said Mr. Sargent. 

Here Ailie came to take Mary Grace to 
bed. As Aunt Clarice kissed her she said 
they would settle it to-morrow 

Already, in a few hours’ time Miss Sargent 


AUNT CLARICE 


127 


was weary of Miss Polly’s name. “She 
seems to have turned the world upside 
down. “ I don’t know when I shall get 
Mary Grace under control,” she exclaimed. 

She doesn’t often leave things as she 
finds them, but they are usually the better 
for her stirring up,” said her brother. 

“Miss Polly is a good and sensible 
woman,” added Aunt Margaret. 


CHAPTER XII 


HELPING SANTA CLAUS 

The postman was busy, tremendously 
busy ; so much so he required an assistant, 
and they both staggered under the load 
they had to carry. There were packages 
hung around their necks, tied on their 
arms, overflowing from their bags in all 
sorts of ways, until they might have been 
mistaken for Santa Claus himself. 

Certainly Santa Claus was never cheerier 
than Mr. Meguire. At the sound of his 
whistle people came running to their doors 
to see what he had brought, and he had a 
merry word for everybody. 

“ I guess he is glad we are going to trim 

Nellie’s tree,” Nansie said, dancing about 
128 


HELPING SANTA CLAUS 129 

the room where her mother and Cousin 
Polly were busy doing up parcels in tissue 
paper tied with red ribbons. 

“ What do you think ? ” cried Nina run- 
ning in, “ Anne says, Ailie says. Miss Sar- 
gent says Mary Grace can’t go.” 

Cousin Polly dropped the bolt of red 
ribbon. “ Are you sure ? That will be 
too bad. She must go, — poor little Miss 
Mouse. I’ll go myself and explain to Miss 
Sargent. She doesn’t understand.” 

“Polly, do you think you’d better?” 
Mrs. Blanchard asked. 

“ It isn’t minding my own business ex- 
actly, but I am going.” 

When Cousin Polly said she was going 
to do anything, in that tone, she always 
did it. 

Uncle Will wondered afterward what 
she said to his sister. He had exhausted 
his eloquence all to no effect. 

Miss Polly began by being very humble, 
9 


130 IT ALL CAME TRUE 

and when she was humble she was particu- 
larly dangerous, which of course Miss Sar- 
gent didn’t know. She was the one who 
was responsible for it, Miss Polly confessed. 
She drew a picture of the postman’s family, 
and of Nellie ; she told how clean the 
house was, and how gentle and well be- 
haved the children were. She explained 
how she happened to take the stars to see 
Nellie, — because she thought it would do 
them good to help some one less fortunate 
than themselves. She asked Miss Sargent 
if she did not think it was well for us all 
to come in contact at times with a life 
different from our own. 

She said she had not dreamed of doing 
anything that Mary Grace’s aunt would not 
approve, and if she had, she was very sorry. 
Mary Grace was a dear little girl, and 
seemed so happy to be with other children. 
Would not Miss Sargent allow her to 
go this once ? 


HELPING SANTA CLAUS 131 

After all it was not so much what she 
said. It was a certain compelling power 
which at times breathed from Miss Clin- 
ton’s very presence. From being annoyed 
Miss Sargent became gracious, and finally 
surrendered. 

She spoke of her own theories in regard 
to Mary Grrace’s bringing up. Her sister- 
in-law was so young, she said, it had largely 
devolved upon her. While she did not ap- 
prove of her niece going to see the post- 
man’s little girl, she acknowledged the 
possibility that the Meguires might be an 
exception to most persons of that class, and 
she reluctantly consented to let her go to 
the tree trimming. Miss Polly listened 
patiently, and they parted excellent 
friends. 

They were going to help Santa Claus, 
Cousin Polly said when the merry proces- 
sion started out, with Ailie and Anne to 
carry the things. The stars were in a state 


132 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


of wild delight. Such laughing and jump- 
ing up and down and clapping of hands 
was really not suitable behavior for the 
street except at Christmas time. People 
turned to look at the gay little company, 
and laughed in sympathy. 

Before they reached the Meguires’ Cousin 
Polly reminded them that Nellie could not 
stand so much noise, and if they did not 
remember, she said she would send them 
home with Anne, and she and Ailie would 
trim the tree. This awful threat reduced 
them to mouse-like quiet for about two 
minutes. 

Nellie was expecting them, for the tree 
was not to be a secret. She was to have 
the pleasure of seeing it trimmed, and it 
was already there, firmly planted in a box 
opposite her bed. 

First there was the fun of opening the 
boxes and spreading the contents over 
Nellie’s bed, and of explaining, “We made 





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HELPING SANTA CLAUS 133 

this, Nellie,” or ‘‘Aunt Margaret made 
that” 

Cousin Polly stood on the step-ladder, 
and the stars ran back and forth, handing 
her things. First the big golden star, then 
the gauzy-winged angels, then the strings 
of popcorn and cranberries and tinsel, and 
all the other treasures, and they really tried 
very hard not to shriek with joy. 

When it was done it was the most beau- 
ful tree ever seen. Mrs. Meguire said so, 
and so did the little postmen, peeping shyly 
in at the door, and of course Nellie thought 
it was, for she had watched and laughed 
and enjoyed every minute of the time. 

“ Now we are ready for Santa Claus,” 
Cousin Polly said when there wasn’t room 
for another thing. “ Let’s sing Nellie our 
Christmas song and go home.” 

And gathering close to her they sang the 
song Cousin Polly had taught them, begin- 
ning, “ There’s a wonderful tree.” 


134 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


Mary Grace wanted to tell Nellie about 
the pink slippers, but they, along with a 
number of other bundles, were not to be 
undone till to-morrow. 

By the time they had wished Nellie a 
Merry Christmas and had their things on 
it was almost dark. The electric lights 
were coming out, up and down the street, 
and overhead the stars were beginning to 
shine. In the air was that delicious, mys- 
terious something which makes Christmas 
eve different from all other evenings. 

How pleasant it was to walk along look- 
ing in at the lighted windows where holly 
wreaths hung, and where now and then 
you had a glimpse of a tree ; past the busy 
grocery where there were still some good 
things left, and then home to hang up your 
stocking and go to sleep thinking about 
Santa Claus ! 

Aunt Clarice asked Mary Grace if she 
had had a nice time. 


HELPING SANTA CLAUS 135 

“ I had the best time I ever had in my 
life,” Mary Grace answered emphatically. 

Miss Sargent did not understand. She 
had a misgiving that her niece’s tastes were 
not quite refined. 

She was feeling relieved about the 
Blanchards. Mr. Blanchard, she had 
learned, had recently become a member of 
one of the oldest and most distinguished 
law firms in the city. They were very good 
sort of people, Mrs. Van Cleeve assured 
her. “ Not just our kind, but still persons 
one can afford to know.” 


CHAPTER XIII 


A HAPPY NEW YEAR 

“ Happy New Year,” said the postman, 
handing Mr. Brown a letter at the gate. 

Mr. Brown opened it, then turned back 
to tell Mrs. Brown about it. 

The letter was from Mr. Sargent, engag- 
ing him to draw the plans for a block of 
dwelling houses. There were some pleas- 
ant words about Mr. Brown’s work, and a 
check was enclosed which he was asked to 
accept in advance. 

‘‘ What a good beginning,” Mrs. Brown 
exclaimed. 

“ And I used not to like him. I thought 
he was — well, rather stuck up, you know,” 

Mr. Brown added repentantly. 

186 


A HAPPY NEW YEAR 137 

“A Happy New Year,” said the card in 
the box of Catherine Mermets Miss Polly 
received. When she lifted the roses she 
found a folded paper. It was a copy of 
the bill to enforce factory laws, just printed, 
and it seemed to please her as much as the 
flowers. 

“Happy New Year, Uncle Will,” said 
Mary Grace, coming down to breakfast. 

“ Happy New Year to you,” her uncle 
answered. “ What do you say to making 
some New Year’s calls this afternoon ? ” 

“Me?” 

“ You and me.” 

“ Goody ! ” Mary Grace exclaimed. 

Aunt Clarice remarked that that was 
a silly expression. “Could you not say 
‘That will be nice,’ or, ‘I should like 
that’?” 

Uncle Will laughed, probably remember- 
ing the time when he used to say “ Goody.” 

After lunch he, and Mary Grace in her 


138 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


very best clothes, drove about making calls 
on certain aunts and cousins and old family 
friends, and Mary Grace held up her head 
and spoke when she was spoken to, not to 
mention several times when she wasn’t, 
and her fingers did not go near her mouth, 
but for the most part stayed in her new 
ermine muff. 

Aunt Margaret, who was one of those 
called on, seemed particularly glad to see 
them, and asked after Nina and Nansie and 
Little Boy Brown as if she missed them all. 

When they had said good-by, and were 
rolling homeward. Uncle Will said, “ It 
seems a long time since that evening when 
you and I sat by the fire and you asked me 
if I had ever been left.” 

Mary Grace thought it was very long 
ago. She had almost forgotten about 
being left. 

“ And you wished for some children to 
play with, didn’t you ? ” 


A HAPPY NEW YEAR I39 

Mary Grace nodded her head joyfully. 
“ And it came true,” she said. 

They ended their calls at the Blanchards’, 
where everybody came down to see them, 
from Mr. Blanchard to baby Charles. 

Cousin Polly said their visit was op- 
portune, for now they would appear in 
the last chapter of the Book of Happy 
Days. 

‘‘ Are you really going to admit me ? ” 
Uncle Will asked. “ Once you told me 
you did not think I deserved it.” 

“Yes, I’ll grant you a place among the 
stars now, if you won’t be too set up,” she 
answered laughing. 

“ How can he help being set up — among 
the stars ? ” Mr. Blanchard asked. 

“ But why do you call it the last chap- 
ter?” it occurred to Mr. Sargent to in- 
quire. 

“ Isn’t it dreadful ? She is going home,” 
Mrs. Blanchard explained, mournfully. 


140 


IT ALL CAME TRUE 


“ Having been here only three months,” 
Cousin Polly added. 

But really in three months she had come 
to seem like a permanent institution. The 
idea of losing her cast a shadow on the 
happy new year. 

Miss Polly had them all laughing in a 
very few minutes, however, and then Mr. 
Brown and L. B. came in, and there were 
more good wishes. 

“ It is so pleasant to know some of 
our neighbors,” Mrs. Blanchard remarked, 
“ and this is one thing we owe to Cousin 
Polly.” 

When they came to think of it, a great 
deal seemed owing to her, and yet she said 
she had not done anything. 

You maybe sure the stars did not forget 
her. Nina and Nansie and Mary Grace 
continued to .^lay together, and later on 
they shared the instructions of a visiting 


A HAPPY NEW YEAR 


141 


governess, Miss Sargent finding it difficult 
to fill Miss Susanne’s place. 

When Mary Grace’s mother and father 
returned they were surprised at the change 
in her. 

“ How she has grown ! ” they said. 
“ How she has improved ! She seems quite 
strong and well.” 

“ All owing to my guardianship,” Uncle 
Will said. 

“ Nonsense,” exclaimed Mary Grace’s 
father. “ And how does it happen that 
you have gone into the Civic League and 
are taking an interest in politics ? I don’t 
understand it at all.” 

“That is because you did not meet Miss 
Polly,” Uncle Will answered. 


THE END. 








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